L. Cangemi

M. Chiodaroli

H. Johansson

A. Ochirov

P. Pichini

E. Skvortsov

Effective field theories for Kerr black holes, showing the 3-point Kerr amplitudes are uniquely predicted using higher-spin gauge symmetry.

Kerr black holes are rotating, uncharged solutions to the field equations of general relativity. Described in 1963, these black holes were only directly observed by LIGO in 2015. We reproduce the known scattering amplitudes of a Kerr black hole by modelling one as a spinning fundamental particle using effective field theory, and suggest this approach may yield a more general description of their dynamics in future.

We propose that the dynamics of Kerr black holes is strongly constrained by the principle of gauge symmetry. We initiate the construction of EFTs for Kerr black holes of any integer quantum spin s using Stueckelberg fields, and show that the known three-point Kerr amplitudes are uniquely predicted using massive higher-spin gauge symmetry. This symmetry is argued to be connected to an enhanced range of validity for the Kerr EFTs. We consider the closely related root-Kerr electromagnetic solution in parallel, for which the dynamical interactions with photons are also constrained by massive higher-spin gauge symmetry. Finally, the spin-s Compton amplitudes are analyzed, and we discuss contact-term constraints at s=2 from Ward identities.

Black hole symmetry

Kerr black holes enjoy massive higher-spin gauge symmetry