Testing fundamental physics with black hole ringdowns and echoes

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• Julian Westerweck
• Wednesday 27 September 2023, 14:00-15:00
• PHYW-LT (117).

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Khun Sang Phukon.

Gravitational wave observations so far agree with the signals expected for merging black holes in general relativity. The signal’s late phase provides an excellent tool to directly probe the nature of the final object. In black hole spectroscopy, we study the characteristic spectrum of quasi-normal modes emitted in the ringdown of the merger remnant. Deviations from the spectrum expected for a Kerr black hole may reveal departures from general relativity or show the final object to be a more exotic alternative. Previously expected to be feasible only for next-generation detectors, technical developments and the detection of an unexpectedly promising source in GW190521 provide first opportunities for these tests. I will present results from our studies focussed on this source and discuss subtleties and biases encountered when analysing large populations of ringdown sources. Modifications from the expected signals may also be present following the ringdown. Pulsed “echoes” or long-lived modes at late times could be emitted by alternative exotic compact objects. I will discuss the evidence found in the data for echoes and present results from our searches for long-lived modes.

This talk is part of the Astrophysics Talks Series series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• Astrophysics Talks Series
• Bham Talks
• PHYW-LT (117)
• What's on in Physics?

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