Dynamical Love for area quantized black holes

TL;DR

This paper explores how the tidal Love number, which depends on frequency, can serve as an observational signature to identify area quantized black holes and distinguish them from other horizonless objects using gravitational wave data.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that frequency-dependent tidal Love numbers can reveal quantum features of black holes with quantized areas, providing a new observational test.

Findings

Distinct shape of reflectivity for area quantized black holes

Frequency-dependent tidal Love numbers as a diagnostic tool

Potential to differentiate quantum black holes with gravitational wave data

Abstract

We study the tidal deformability of horizonless exotic compact objects, with implications for area quantized black holes. Since, any such horizonless compact object, including area quantized black hole, possesses a non-zero reflectivity, it follows that they inherit a nonzero tidal Love number, which varies as a function of the perturbing frequency. The reflectivity of the horizon for an area quantized black hole has a distinct shape and unmistakable features, which are also present in the frequency-dependent tidal Love numbers, and therefore is a smoking gun test for such quantum black holes. The existence of these features also promotes the dynamical Love number to be a crucial observational tool to not only distinguish area quantized black holes from other models of horizonless compact objects, but also to differentiate between black holes with distinct schemes of area quantization. We further discuss implications of the same for the present and the future gravitational wave detectors.