Spectral lines of extreme compact objects

We study the absorption of scalar fields by extreme/exotic compact objects (ECOs)—horizonless alternatives to black holes—via a simple model in which dissipative mechanisms are encapsulated in a single parameter. Trapped modes, localized between the ECO core and the potential barrier at the photonsphere, generate Breit-Wigner-type spectral lines in the absorption cross section. Absorption is enhanced whenever the wave frequency resonates with a trapped mode, leading to a spectral profile which differs qualitatively from that of a black hole. We introduce a model based on Nariai spacetime, in which properties of the spectral lines are calculated in closed form. We present numerically calculated absorption cross sections and transmission factors for example scenarios and show how the Nariai model captures the essential features. We argue that, in principle, ECOs can be distinguished from black holes through their absorption spectra

The scientific potential of space-based gravitational wave detectors

The millihertz gravitational wave band can only be accessed with a space-based interferometer, but it is one of the richest in potential sources. Observations in this band have amazing scientific potential. The mergers between massive black holes with mass in the range 10 thousand to 10 million solar masses, which are expected to occur following the mergers of their host galaxies, produce strong millihertz gravitational radiation. Observations of these systems will trace the hierarchical assembly of structure in the Universe in a mass range that is very difficult to probe electromagnetically. Stellar mass compact objects falling into such black holes in the centres of galaxies generate detectable gravitational radiation for several years prior to the final plunge and merger with the central black hole. Measurements of these systems offer an unprecedented opportunity to probe the predictions of general relativity in the strong-field and dynamical regime. Millihertz gravitational waves are also generated by millions of ultra-compact binaries in the Milky Way, providing a new way to probe galactic stellar populations. ESA has recognised this great scientific potential by selecting The Gravitational Universe as its theme for the L3 large satellite mission, scheduled for launch in ~2034. In this article we will review the likely sources for millihertz gravitational wave detectors and describe the wide applications that observations of these sources could have for astrophysics, cosmology and fundamental physics.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures, contribution to Gravitational Wave Astrophysics, the proceedings of the 2014 Sant Cugat Forum on Astrophysics; v2 includes one additional referenc

Evidence confirms an anthropic origin of Amazonian Dark Earths

Archaeology of the America

Absorption by black hole remnants in metric-affine gravity

Using numerical methods, we investigate the absorption properties of a family of nonsingular solutions which arise in different metric-affine theories, such as quadratic and Born-Infeld gravity. These solutions continuously interpolate between Schwarzschild black holes and naked solitons with wormhole topology. The resulting spectrum is characterized by a series of quasibound states excitations, associated with the existence of a stable photonsphere

Absorption of massless scalar field by rotating black holes

We compute the absorption cross-section of the Kerr black holes (BH) for the massless scalar field, and present a selection of numerical results, to complement the results of Ref.[C. F. B. Macedo, L. C. S. Leite, E. S. Oliveria, S. R. Dolan and L. C. B. Crispino, Phys. Rev. D 88 (2013) 064033.] We show that, in the high-frequency regime, the cross-section approaches the geodesic capture cross-section. We split the absorption cross-section into corotating and counterrotating contributions, and we show that the counterrotating contribution exceeds the corotating one