Absorption spectroscopy of quantum black holes with gravitational waves Articles uri icon

publication date

  • October 2021

issue

  • 14, 2142013

volume

  • 30

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0218-2718

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1793-6594

abstract

  • The observation of electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed by matter was instrumental in revealing the quantum properties of atoms and molecules in the early XX century, and constituted a turning-point in the development of the quantum theory. Quantum mechanics changes dramatically the way radiation and matter interact, making the probability of emission and absorption of light strongly frequency dependent, as clearly manifested in atomic spectra. In this essay, we advocate that gravitational radiation can play, for the quantum aspects of black holes, a similar role as electromagnetic radiation did for atoms, and that the advent of gravitational-wave astronomy can bring this fascinating possibility to the realm of observations.

subjects

  • Astronomy
  • Physics

keywords

  • black holes; quantization; quantum aspects of black holes; tidal heating; gravitational waves; ringdown