Fun with black holes

Yuri Levin (Columbia University)

November 12, 2018

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Abstract: GW observations finally give us firm evidence that god is playing billiards with black holes. I will discuss a couple of interesting BH-related phenomena that one might look for in GW sky. Firstly, I will discuss GW memory, which is potentially detectable by LISA (very likely), LIGO (if we are patient), and Pulsar Timing Arrays (if we and our descendants are patient). Secondly I will discuss vibrating nets of black holes connected by cosmic strings, physically interesting objects that may arise in the early Universe if both cosmic strings and primordial BHs are present. A possible third fun thing might also be discussed.