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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.23364 |
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| _version_ | 1866911623125401600 |
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| author | Jia, Hai-Long Guo, Wen-Di Zhang, Yu-Peng Liu, Yu-Xiao |
| author_facet | Jia, Hai-Long Guo, Wen-Di Zhang, Yu-Peng Liu, Yu-Xiao |
| contents | The quasinormal mode spectrum is a unique fingerprint linking gravitational-wave observations to extra-dimensional geometry. In this Letter, we show that thick braneworlds exhibit a spectral butterfly effect: infinitesimal deformations of the effective potential trigger dramatic migrations of quasinormal modes, challenging the presumed stability of this fingerprint. Frequency-domain instabilities depend sensitively on the perturbation's location and strength. In the time domain, near-brane perturbations primarily modify the early ringdown, while far-brane perturbations generate clean late-time echoes. Crucially, the graviton zero mode remains localized, preserving four-dimensional gravity. Despite this pronounced spectral fragility, the observable early-stage signal under current detector sensitivities is still dominated by the original fundamental mode. Hence, thick braneworlds display a nontrivial coexistence of a fragile spectrum and a resilient ringdown, supporting the continued use of the standard fingerprint in present-day gravitational-wave astronomy while revealing its hidden sensitivity. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_23364 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Spectral Butterfly Effect and Resilient Ringdown in Thick Braneworlds Jia, Hai-Long Guo, Wen-Di Zhang, Yu-Peng Liu, Yu-Xiao General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology The quasinormal mode spectrum is a unique fingerprint linking gravitational-wave observations to extra-dimensional geometry. In this Letter, we show that thick braneworlds exhibit a spectral butterfly effect: infinitesimal deformations of the effective potential trigger dramatic migrations of quasinormal modes, challenging the presumed stability of this fingerprint. Frequency-domain instabilities depend sensitively on the perturbation's location and strength. In the time domain, near-brane perturbations primarily modify the early ringdown, while far-brane perturbations generate clean late-time echoes. Crucially, the graviton zero mode remains localized, preserving four-dimensional gravity. Despite this pronounced spectral fragility, the observable early-stage signal under current detector sensitivities is still dominated by the original fundamental mode. Hence, thick braneworlds display a nontrivial coexistence of a fragile spectrum and a resilient ringdown, supporting the continued use of the standard fingerprint in present-day gravitational-wave astronomy while revealing its hidden sensitivity. |
| title | Spectral Butterfly Effect and Resilient Ringdown in Thick Braneworlds |
| topic | General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.23364 |