Black-hole cartography

Quasinormal modes (QNMs) are usually characterized by their time dependence, with oscillations at specific frequencies predicted by black hole (BH) perturbation theory. QNMs are routinely identified in the ringdown of numerical relativity waveforms, are widely used in waveform modeling, and underpin key tests of general relativity and of the nature of compact objects—a program sometimes called BH spectroscopy. Perturbation theory also predicts a specific spatial shape for each QNM perturbation. For the Kerr metric, these are the (s=−2) spheroidal harmonics. Spatial information can be extracted from numerical relativity by fitting a feature with known time dependence to all of the spherical harmonic modes, allowing the shape of the feature to be reconstructed—a program initiated here and that we call “BH cartography.” Accurate spatial reconstruction requires fitting to many spherical harmonics and is demonstrated using highly accurate Cauchy-characteristic numerical relativity waveforms. The loudest QNMs are mapped, and their reconstructed shapes are found to match the spheroidal harmonic predictions. The cartographic procedure is also applied to the quadratic QNMs—nonlinear features in the ringdown—and their reconstructed shapes are compared with expectations based on second-order perturbation theory. BH cartography allows us to determine the viewing angles that maximize the amplitude of the quadratic QNMs, an important guide for future searches, and is expected to lead to an improved understanding of nonlinearities in BH ringdown. Published by the American Physical Society 2025