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Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics

In Black Hole Perturbation Theory, confluent Heun functions appear as solutions to the radial Teukolsky equation, which governs perturbations in black hole spacetimes. While these functions are typically studied for their analytic properties, their connection to the underlying spacetime geometry has received less attention. In this talk, I will propose a spacetime interpretation of the confluent Heun functions, demonstrating how their behaviour near their singular points reflects the structure of key surfaces in Kerr spacetimes. By interpreting homotopic transformations of these functions as changes in the spacetime foliation, I will establish a connection between these solutions and various regions of the black hole’s global structure. I will also explore their relationship with the hyperboloidal formulation of the radial Teukolsky equation.

Further information

Time:

06Jun
Jun 6th 2025
13:00 to 14:00

Venue:

Potter room/Zoom

Speaker:

Marica Minucci, Bohr Inst., Copenhagen

Series:

DAMTP Friday GR Seminar