Nonlinear Black Hole Perturbation Theory: Merging Black Holes, Communities and Ideas

Europe/London
University of Nottingham

University of Nottingham

Béatrice Bonga (Radboud University), Adam Pound (University of Southampton), Laura Sberna (University of Nottingham), Leo Stein (University of Mississippi), Barry Wardell (University College Dublin), Stephen Green (University of Nottingham)
Description

Black hole perturbation theory has been a key driver of theoretical gravity research since the 1960s, illuminating aspects of quantum gravity, information theory, gravitational-wave science, and the fundamental nature of black holes. It has played a particularly important role in two areas: self-force theory, used to model asymmetric binaries such as extreme-mass-ratio inspirals; and ringdown studies of dynamical black holes, such as occurs after a black hole merger. 

Historically, almost all work in these areas has focused on linear perturbations. However, motivated by the needs of precision gravitational-wave astronomy, nonlinear black hole perturbation theory has recently emerged as the new frontier of the field. This advent of high-precision modelling offers exciting prospects for linking the self-force and ringdown communities.

This workshop will bring together prominent experts and leading young scientists from the two communities to share methods, spark new collaborations, and investigate new ideas in black hole physics.

Due to limited space, registration will be moderated. The deadline for registration is Friday July 4, and we aim to notify participants by the end of July. Preference will be given to participants who wish to also attend the 2nd Annual Workshop on Self-Force and Amplitudes, which will be held 9-12 September 2025 at the University of Southampton.

Invited speakers

  • Marina De Amicis
  • Devin Becker
  • Swetha Bhagwat
  • Patrick Bourg
  • Gregorio Carullo
  • Marc Casals
  • Stefan Hollands
  • Neev Khera
  • Sizheng Ma
  • Lorenzo Kuchler
  • Benjamin Leather
  • Lorena Magana Zertuche
  • Zach Nasipak
  • Rodrigo Panosso Macedo
  • Christiana Pantelidou
  • Ariadna Ribes Metidieri
  • Andrew Spiers
  • Samuel Upton

 

Funding sources

This workshop is funded by the Gravity Theory Trust.

Participants
    • Welcome
      Conveners: Prof. Adam Pound (University of Southampton), Barry Wardell (University College Dublin), Laura Sberna (University of Nottingham), Dr Stephen Green (University of Nottingham)
    • Talks: Second order self-force
      • 1
        Introduction to the second order self-force problem
        Speaker: Zachary Nasipak (University of Southampton)
      • 2
        The Bondi-Sachs gauge
        Speaker: Andrew Spiers (University of Nottingham)
    • Coffee break
    • Talks: Second order self-force
      • 3
        Source construction
        Speaker: Samuel Upton (University of Southampton)
    • Discussion: Challenges in second order self-force
    • Lunch
    • Talks: Higher order ringdown
      • 4
        Introduction to the ringdown
        Speaker: Sizheng Ma (Perimeter Institute)
      • 5
        TBA
        Speaker: Neev Khera (University of Guelph)
      • 6
        TBA
        Speaker: Patrick Bourg (Radboud University)
    • Coffee break
    • Talks: Higher order ringdown
      • 7
        TBA
        Speaker: Stefan Hollands (University of Leipzig)
    • Discussion
    • Talks: From inspiral to ringdown
      • 8
        Numerical relativity's perspective on the ringdown
        Speaker: Lorena Magana Zertuche (Nils Bohr Institute)
      • 9
        Inspiral-merger-ringdown waveforms
        Speaker: Lorenzo Küchler
      • 10
        Point particle ringdown
        Speaker: Devin Becker (MIT)
    • Coffee break
    • Talks: From inspiral to ringdown
      • 11
        TBA
        Speaker: Benjamin Leather (University of Southampton)
    • Discussion: New approaches to merger-ringdown
    • Lunch
    • Talks: Other aspects of the ringdown
      • 12
        Dynamical excitation of the ringdown
        Speaker: Marina De Amicis (Nils Bohr Institute)
      • 13
        The tail in the ringdown
        Speaker: Marc Casals (Leipzig University and University College Dublin)
      • 14
        The ringdown at the horizon
        Speaker: Ariadna Ribes Metidieri (Radboud University)
    • Coffee break
    • Talks: Other aspects of the ringdown
      • 15
        TBA
        Speaker: Christiana Pantelidou
    • Discussion: Other aspects of the ringdown
    • Talks: Observations and tests of general relativity
      • 16
        Ringdown and self force beyond general relativity
        Speaker: Thomas Sotiriou (University of Nottingham)
      • 17
        Ringdown and observations
        Speaker: Gregorio Carullo
      • 18
        TBA
        Speaker: Swetha Bhagwat (University of Birmingham)
    • Coffee break
    • Discussion: Observations and tests of general relativity
    • Lunch
    • Talks: Codes and tools
      • 19
        Hyperboloidal methods
        Speaker: Rodrigo Panosso Macedo (University of Southampton)
      • 20
        The Black Hole Perturbation Toolkit
        Speaker: Niels Warburton (University College Dublin)
    • Discussion: Codes and tools
    • Coffee break
    • Discussion: Synergies and collaborations