Quasi-Normal Modes in Topologically Massive Gravity

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the spectrum of black hole quasi-normal modes in topologically massive gravity, revealing a unique algebraic structure and the absence of modes in chiral gravity despite horizons.

Contribution

It uncovers a simple algebraic structure in the quasi-normal mode spectrum and shows the absence of modes in chiral gravity, which is a novel insight.

Findings

Quasi-normal modes form a descendent tower from a chiral highest weight mode.

In chiral gravity, quasi-normal modes are absent despite the presence of a horizon.

The spectrum exhibits a simple algebraic structure related to a first order equation.

Abstract

We determine the black hole quasi-normal mode spectrum for tensor perturbations in topologically massive AdS-gravity. In the special case of chiral gravity quasi-normal modes are absent despite of the presence of a horizon. In the process we uncover a simple algebraic structure in the quasi normal modes spectrum: the tower of QNM's consists of descendents of a "chiral highest weight'' QNM which in turn satisfies a first order equation.