Theoretical Physics(DTP)
Physique théorique (DPT)

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Gabor KUNSTATTER
University of Winnipeg

Vibrational Modes of Black Holes and their Quantum Gravitational Microstates

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The quasi-normal modes (QNM) are classical vibrational modes of black holes that play an important role in predictions for gravitational wave experiments. A few years ago, Hod used semi-classical arguments to derive the energy/area spectrum of quantum black holes from numerical observations about their QNM spectrum. More recently Dryer used arguments similar to those of Hod in order to fix the elusive Immirzi parameter in loop quantum gravity. I review a generalization of Hod's arguments that seems to suggest the fact that the QNM spectrum may be providing clues about black hole quantum microstates at least for the case of Schwarzschild black holes. I will also review some of the evidence that this relationship does not hold for more complicated black holes, and speculate on the reasons for this apparent discrepency.