Scalar quasinormal modes in black hole gravitational lensing
Phys. Rev. D 113, 024045 – Published 27 January, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/gg33-r64q
Abstract
We investigate the excitation of quasinormal modes (QNMs) in gravitational lensing by a Schwarzschild black hole using a scalar field model. By employing a time-domain mode-sum method, we analyze the complex interplay between an incident burst signal and the black hole spacetime. We find that the incident waves can nonresonantly excite a substantial number of high- modes, with amplitudes for modes as high as remaining significant compared to the fundamental mode. We confirm through QNM template fitting that the late-time behaviors of these excited modes are indeed QNMs. After passing through the black hole, we find that the lensed waves form a highly directional and coherent Gaussian beam whose cross-sectional intensity profile is well-described by a Gaussian profile. Unlike spherical waves, this beam’s amplitude does not decrease with distance from the black hole but remains nearly constant in the near-field region. Moreover, due to the superposition of numerous QNMs, oscillations largely cancel each other out. The lensed temporal waves do not exhibit typical oscillatory patterns.