10/26 TAC Seminar - Sizheng Ma (Johns Hopkins)
About
Title: Gravitational waves as a probe of fundamental black hole physicsAbstract: Gravitational waves from binary black hole mergers have opened a new window onto the Universe. While much attention has focused on what they reveal about black hole astrophysics, I will take a complementary perspective: how fundamental black hole dynamics are imprinted on gravitational-wave signals. Drawing an analogy with fluid mechanics, where dynamics can progress from linear perturbations and mode decomposition to nonlinear mode coupling and ultimately turbulence, I will show that black holes, and even dynamical spacetime itself, can exhibit similar behaviors. I will then discuss how this perspective deepens our understanding of gravitational-wave waveforms and observed events such as GW150914 and GW250114, revealing signatures of black hole oscillations, nonlinear (spacetime) dynamics, and the horizon itself.Host: TBD
