Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding black holes by applying a powerful mathematical tool called the exact Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) method. Published in Physical Review Letters, their study reveals previously hidden patterns in the “ringing” of black holes – vibrations known as quasinormal modes.
Black holes are often seen as silent cosmic voids, but this research shows they emit a distinctive pattern when disturbed. Quasinormal modes ripple through space-time, generating gravitational waves detectable from Earth. The Kyoto University team applied the exact WKB analysis to decode these faint vibrations, uncovering patterns that had been missed for decades.
The breakthrough lies in an advanced mathematical approach known as the exact WKB method. This method extends the problem into the complex number domain, revealing new features such as infinitely spiraling Stokes curves. These curves shed light on the hidden structure of black hole vibrations.
The study’s lead author, Taiga Miyachi, said “We found spiraling patterns that had been overlooked before, and they turned out to be essential for understanding quasinormal modes.” This discovery is crucial for gravitational wave detectors, as it provides a more precise understanding of black hole mass, spin, and shape. It could also help detect subtle deviations pointing towards new physics, including possible evidence for quantum gravity effects.
The Kyoto University team plans to extend this analysis to rotating black holes and explore the implications for quantum gravity. By uncovering hidden patterns in black hole vibrations, scientists are turning mathematical abstraction into a tool for cosmic discovery.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/08/black-holes-singing-scientists-know-lyrics