Using self-force methods, we consider the hyperbolic-type scattering of a pointlike particle carrying a scalar charge $Q$ off a Schwarzschild black hole. For given initial velocity and impact parameter, backreaction from the scalar field modifies the scattering angle by an amount $\propto Q^2$, which we calculate numerically for a large sample of orbits (neglecting the gravitational self-force). Our results probe both strong-field and field-weak scenarios, and in the latter case we find a good agreement with post-Minkowskian expressions. The scalar-field self-force has a component tangent to the four-velocity that exchanges particle’s mass with scalar-field energy, and we also compute this mass exchange as a function along the orbit. The expressions we derive for the scattering angle (in terms of certain integrals of the self-force along the orbit) can be used to obtain the gravitational self-force correction to the angle in the physical problem of a binary black hole with a large mass ratio. We discuss the remaining steps necessary to achieve this goal.

• Received 8 September 2022
• Accepted 7 October 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.106.104031