Squeezed Quasinormal Modes from Nonlinear Gravitational Effects

Abstract

We estimate the degree of squeezing possible in gravitational waves due to nonlinear gravitational effects in the weakly perturbative regime. Using the predicted amplitude ratios for higher harmonic generation in the ringdown phase of a black hole merger event, we estimate the relevant degree of squeezing produced by a Schwarzschild singularity to be of the order of one percent.

25 pages, 0 figures. v. 2: Extensive revision of text to emphasize the conceptual basis and generality of the squeezing estimate. Re-organized to separate foundational logic from technical details, which have been put into appendices. Conclusions substantially unchanged