Third-Order Corrections and Mass-Shedding Limit of Rotating Neutron Stars Computed By a Complex-Plane Strategy

Abstract

We implement the so-called “complex-plane strategy” for computing general-relativistic polytropic models of uniformly rotating neutron stars. This method manages the problem by performing all numerical integrations, required within the framework of Hartle’s perturbation method, in the complex plane. We give emphasis on computing corrections up to third order in the angular velocity, and the mass-shedding limit. We also compute the angular momentum, moment of inertia, rotational kinetic energy, and gravitational potential energy of the models considered.