Merging black holes do not violate the no-hair theorem
Observations of gravitational-wave ringdowns from merging black holes consistently support the validity of the no-hair theorem in general relativity.
Empirical gravitational wave data from black hole mergers (such as GW150914 and GW231123) test the remnant properties against general relativity predictions, finding strong agreement with the no-hair theorem. The other retrieved papers discuss theoretical extensions, shadows, or unrelated topics, but papers 0 and 10 directly support the empirical compatibility of merging black holes with the theorem.
Isi M, Giesler M, Farr WM, Scheel MA, Teukolsky SA. Testing the No-Hair Theorem with GW150914.. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.123.111102
Gravitational-wave observations of binary black-hole mergers, such as GW150914, show that the properties of the remnant black hole align with the predictions of a Kerr black hole under the no-hair theorem.
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Fan Y, Wang H, Tang S, Li P. Detection of a Higher Harmonic Quasi-normal Mode in the Ringdown Signal of GW231123. 2025. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7546124/v1
Analyses of multi-mode ringdown signals from black hole mergers like GW231123 yield inferred remnant properties that are consistent with the no-hair theorem in general relativity.
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