With the discovery of gravitational waves, a new space information channel has become available to scientists, and a new field of science, nonlinear dynamics of curved space-time (geometrodynamics for short) has been provided with an observational basis. The observation of gravitational waves is particularly interesting for understanding the nature of black holes. The observation of the last ring down stage during a binary black hole merger can in principle provide evidence for the existence of an event horizon for the newly formed black hole. The discovery of gravitational waves opens new possibilities for the massive discovery and investigation of new black holes in highly evolved binaries.

Keywords: gravitational waves, black holes, binary stars, geometrodynamics, evolution, coalescence of black holes PACS: 04.30.−w, 97.60.Lf, 97.80.−d (all) DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2016.03.037819 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2016/9/h/ 000391228000008 2-s2.0-85006097364 2016PhyU...59..910C Citation: Cherepashchuk A M "Discovery of gravitational waves: a new chapter in black hole studies" Phys. Usp. 59 910–917 (2016) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Received: 29th, March 2016, accepted: 2nd, March 2016 Оригинал: Черепащук А М «Открытие гравитационных волн: новый этап в исследованиях чёрных дыр» УФН 186 1001–1010 (2016); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2016.03.037819