Black holes are not just empty voids in space, they also produce a unique pattern known as quasinormal modes. These ripples in space-time can be detected as gravitational waves and offer a way to measure the mass and shape of black holes. However, calculating these vibrations has proven challenging.
A team of researchers at Kyoto University has developed a new method for calculating the vibrations of black holes using a powerful mathematical tool called the exact Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin analysis. This technique allows scientists to carefully trace the behavior of waves from a black hole out into distant space, even in regions that are difficult to analyze with other methods.
The researchers used this approach to examine space near the black hole and extend it into the complex number domain, revealing a rich structure of the black hole’s geometry. They also incorporated mathematical phenomena called Stokes curves, which designate where the nature of a wave suddenly changes.
The findings reveal that the team has successfully developed a method that systematically captures the frequency structure of rapidly weakening vibrations. This demonstrates the power of the exact WKB method as a practical tool for bridging theoretical predictions with observational data.
This study makes it possible to analyze the “ringing sounds” of black holes across a wide range of theoretical models, which may help improve the precision of future gravitational wave observations and lead to a deeper understanding of the universe. The research team plans to extend their approach to rotating black holes and explore its application in studies related to quantum gravity effects.
This breakthrough marks an important step forward in the study of black holes and their role in the universe, offering new insights into the behavior of these mysterious objects.
Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250801021010.htm