Leiden University Student Repository

Dieren, Timon van (2025)

Quasi-normal mode damping by matter in Schwarzschild spacetime

Master thesis | Physics (MSc)

We present a formalism to calculate matter induced damping of the quasi-normal modes of perturbed Schwarzschild spacetime. Potential damping effects might be relevant for high precision models and data analysis of a black hole ringdown gravitational wave signal. In our model the surrounding matter is assumed to be relevant only at the perturbative level. We employ a kinetic approach and consider an initial distribution of massive particles on circular geodesics. Via the Boltzmann equation we derive the perturbed distribution function and energy-momentum tensor, including collisions in the collision time approximation. A new wave equation, which is especially useful for circular orbits, is derived for odd (axial) perturbations. Numerically solving for the quasi-normal mode frequencies is left for future work.

Author

Dieren, Timon van

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Specialisation

Cosmology

Supervisors

Patil, S.P.

ECTS Credits

30

Language

en