Robie Hennigar

Thursday 27 Feb 2025, 14:00 → 15:00 Europe/London

OC218

title =  What is a Black Hole?

Abstract= Black holes have long been a source of fascination both in academic circles and for the general public. But this broad appeal belies the subtleties in formulating a useful and broad definition of these objects. In this talk, I will discuss the different notions used to characterize a black hole, including the event horizon and its alternatives (such as the apparent horizon), and highlight the drawbacks and uses of each. I will discuss how these different characterizations allow us to understand some of the most dynamic events in our universe — black hole mergers.