COLLOQUIUM 2024

Black Hole Spectroscopy: Recent Observations and Future Prospects

SpeakerBadri Krishnan, Radboud University
Date/TimeWednesday, 26 Jun, 3PM
LocationConference room: S11-02-07
Registration linkhttp://tiny.cc/7suwxz
HostAsst/Prof Alvin Chua

Abstract

A perturbed black hole emits a characteristic spectrum of gravitational wave resonant modes. An observation of these resonant modes can allow us to uniquely determine the properties of the black hole. It can potentially also provide direct evidence for the existence of black hole and distinguish it from other alternatives. Somewhat unexpectedly, there is strong evidence that these resonant modes have been detected in two binary black home merger events detected by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors. In this talk I will summarize these results, related controversies, and the present status of such claims. Future observations of loud events from high mass black hole mergers with more sensitive detectors might allow unambiguous observations of these resonant modes, but several challenges will need to be addressed. I will discuss prospects for black hole spectroscopy with the next generation of ground and space based detectors.

The resonant frequencies for the binary merger event GW190521 reported in Capano et al, PRL 131, 221402 (2023)

Biography

Badri Krishnan is the Professor of Fundamental Physics from Strong Gravity at Radboud University in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. He was previously a senior scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Hannover and Potsdam, Germany. His research interests are in mathematical and numerical aspects of general relativity, and in the observation and interpretation of gravitational waves.