The third wheel: ringdown and lensing of triple systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates the complex dynamics of triple black hole systems through numerical simulations, revealing effects like redshift, lensing amplification, and multiple images without black hole collapse.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed numerical relativity analysis of black hole mergers influenced by a companion, highlighting lensing and redshift effects in triple systems.

Findings

Evidence of Doppler and gravitational redshift in ringdown signals

Detection of amplification effects due to lensing

Observation of a second image with resonant mode hints

Abstract

Triple systems have progressively been recognized as ubiquitous in our universe and provide a good testing ground for wave generation and propagation in nontrivial environments. We study the dynamics of triple systems in a fully nonlinear setting. In particular, we analyze numerical relativity simulations of head-on collisions of black holes in the presence of a companion. We show evidence for Doppler and gravitational redshift in the ringdown, and clear signs of amplification by lensing. In certain cases, we also show the appearance of a second image, with hints of resonant mode excitation. Our results pave the way for the understanding of mergers in the vicinity of massive companions. Even in extreme setups we do not find collapse to black holes from lensed gravitational radiation.