The evolution of the spins of massive black holes

Enrico Barausse

April 12, 2012

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Abstract: After reviewing the importance of black-hole spins in general relativity, astrophysics and cosmology, I will present a semianalytical model following the coevolution of the spins of massive black holes and their host galaxies. Besides showing results for the spin evolution of massive black holes as a function of redshift, I will discuss the implications of my model for future space-based gravitational-wave detectors.