On black hole area quantization and echoes

Abstract

In this work we argue that black hole (BH) area quantization of Bekenstein and Mukhanov should not give rise to measurable effects in terms of so-called gravitational wave echoes during BH mergers. We outline that the quantum spectrum of a BH should be washed out during and after BH mergers, and hence one should not expect echoes in this scenario. The extreme broadening of the spectrum is due to the large particle emission rate during ringdown. Our results question key assumptions being made in recent literature on this topic.