Luis Lehner

Luis Lehner profile picture
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
Areas of research:
If you are interested in pursuing a MSc degree, please apply to the Perimeter Scholars International (PSI) masters program. If you are interested in working with me as a PhD student, please submit an application directly to my department at the University of Waterloo and indicate that you would like to be supervised by me. Perimeter Institute is committed to diversity within its community and I welcome applications from underrepresented groups.
Understanding gravity in strong/highly dynamical regimes. In particular study of systems able to produce strong gravitational and electromagnetic signals. Tests of alternative theories of gravity and how to do so with upcoming gravitational wave detectors. Understanding gravitating systems in higher dimensional scenarios. Explorations of AdS/CFT in dynamical settings (quantum quenches and gravity/fluid correspondence) Understanding of bubble collisions in non-linear regimes. AdS instability and implications on thermalization. Turbulence, relativistic hydrodynamics and gravity With the era of gravitational wave astronomy already started I'm also placing considerable focus on the development of a framework with which to test General Relativity through possible subtle effects of possible deviations. As well, increasing efforts on multimessenger astronomy
  • Theorist in Residence. Gravitational Wave International Committee.
  • Faculty Chair. March 2018 - April 2021
  • Deputy Chair, Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. 01/2015- 12/2017
  • Advisory Board Member of the KITP. UCSB. 2017-2020
  • Member of the Scientific Council of the ICTP South American Institute for Fundamental Research (ICTP- SAIFR) 2015-2019.
  • 2012-. Department of Physics. University of Guelph. Associate Professor of Physics
  • 2011-present. Department of Physics. University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Adjunct Professor of Physics.
  • 2009- present. Department of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University. Adjunct Professor of Physics.
  • 2009 - 2012. Department of Physics. University of Guelph. Associate Professor of Physics.
  • 2009 - present. Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Fellow.
  • 2009 - present. Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. Associate Faculty.
  • 2006-2009. Department of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University. Associate Professor of Physics.
  • 2002-2006 Department of Physics & Astronomy, Louisiana State University. Assistant Professor of Physics.
  • Member of the Advisory Board of the Oskar Kelin Center, Sweeden.
  • TD' 2019 ``10 most influential Hispanic Canadians''
  • Buchalter Cosmology Prize, 2015. Third place for the paper Simulating the universe(s): from cosmic bubble collisions to cosmological observables with numerical relativity.
  • Fellow of the International Society for General Relativity and Gravitation
  • American Physical Society Fellow
  • Kavli-National Academy of Sciences Fellow.
  • LSU Rainmaker award. Louisiana State University.
  • Top 40 under 40. Baton Rouge Business Report.
  • Institute of Physics Fellow, UK.
  • Phi-Kappa-Phi Non-tenured Faculty Award in Natural Sciences, Louisiana State University,
  • Alfred P. Sloan Fellow, Sloan Foundation.
  • Nicholas Metropolis Award, American Physical Society.
  • Nonlinear effects in the black hole ringdown: Absorption-induced mode excitation. Laura Sberna, Pablo Bosch, William E. East, Stephen R. Green, Luis Lehner. Phys.Rev.D 105 (2022) 6, 064046
  • The Next Generation Global Gravitational Wave Observatory: The Science Book. Vicky Kalogera et.al. 2111.06990
  • Dynamics and observational signatures of shell-like black hole mimickers. Ulf Danielsson, Luis Lehner, Frans Pretorius. Phys.Rev.D 104 (2021) 12, 124011
  • Fixing the dynamical evolution in scalar-Gauss-Bonnet gravity. Nicola Franchini, Miguel Bezares, Enrico Barausse, Luis Lehner. 2206.00014
  • A Universal Power-law Prescription for Variability from Synthetic Images of Black Hole Accretion Flows. Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration. Boris Georgiev et al. Astrophys.J.Lett. 930 (2022) 2, L20.
  • Using machine learning to parametrize postmerger signals from binary neutron stars. Tim Whittaker, William E. East, Stephen R. Green, Luis Lehner, Huan Yang. Phys.Rev.D 105 (2022) 12, 124021
  • Effects of High Density Phase Transitions on Neutron Star Dynamics. Steven L. Liebling , C. Palenzuela, L. Lehner, Class.Quant.Grav. 38 (2021) 11, 115007
  • Nonlinear, noniterative treatment of EFT-motivated gravity, R. Cayuso, L. Lehner. Phys.Rev.D 102 (2020) 8, 084008
  • Towards fidelity and scalability in non-vacuum mergers. S.L. Liebling, C. Palenzuela and L. Lehner, Class.Quant.Grav. 37 (2020) 13, 135006.
  • Critical collapse of a scalar field in semiclassical loop quantum gravity. F. Benitez, R. Gambini, L. Lehner, S.L. Liebling and J. Pullin. Phys.Rev.Lett. 124 (2020) 7, 071301.
  • Excited hairy black holes: dynamical construction and level transitions. P. Bosch, S. Green, L. Lehner and H. Roussille
  • Large-misalignment mechanism for the formation of compact axion structures: Signatures from the QCD axion to fuzzy dark matter. A. Arvanitaki, et.al. Phys.Rev.D 101 (2020) 8, 083014
  • Fate of a neutron star with an endoparasitic black hole and implications for dark matter. W.E. East & L. Lehner, Phys.Rev.D 100 (2019) 12, 124026.
  • Gravitational Wave Signatures of Highly Compact Boson Star Binaries. C. Palenzuela, P. Pani, M. Bezares, V. Cardoso, L. Lehner and S. Liebling. Phys.Rev. D96 (2017) no.10, 104058
  • Towards the nonlinear regime in extensions to GR: assessing possible options Gwyneth Allwright, Luis Lehner. Class.Quant.Grav. 36 (2019) no.8, 084001
  • Hyperbolic theory of relativistic conformal dissipative fluids. L Lehner, O. Reula and M. Rubio, Phys.Rev. D97 (2018) no.2, 024013
  • Can we distinguish low mass black holes in neutron star binaries? . H. Yang, W. East and L. Lehner. Astrophys.J. 856 (2018) no.2, 110
  • Fixing extensions to General Relativity in the non-linear regime. Juan Cayuso, Néstor Ortiz, Luis Lehner. arXiv: 1706.07421. Phys.Rev. D96 (2017) no.8, 084043
  • End Point of the Ultraspinning Instability and Violation of Cosmic Censorship. Pau Figueras, Markus Kunesch, Luis Lehner, Saran Tunyasuvunakoo. Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 151103 (2017).
  • Black hole spectroscopy with coherent mode stacking. Huan Yang, Kent Yagi, Jonathan Blackman, Luis Lehner, Vasileios Paschalidis, Frans Pretorius, Nicolas Yunes. Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 161101 (2017).
  • Gravitational action with null boundaries. Luis Lehner, Robert C. Myers, Eric Poisson, Rafael D. Sorkin. Phys. Rev. D 94, 084046 (2016)
  • The m=1 instability \& gravitational wave signal in binary neutron star mergers Luis Lehner, Steven L. Liebling, Carlos Palenzuela, Patrick Motl. Phys. Rev. D 94, 043003 (2016)
  • Scaling Relations in Two-Dimensional Relativistic Hydrodynamic Turbulence . John Ryan Westernacher-Schneider, Luis Lehner, Yaron Oz. JHEP12(2015)067.
  • Islands of stability and recurrence times in AdS Stephen R. Green, Antoine Maillard, Luis Lehner, Steven L. Liebling. arXiv: 1507.08261
  • Effects of the microphysical Equation of State in the mergers of magnetized Neutron Stars With Neutrino Cooling C. Palenzuela, S.L. Liebling, D. Neilsen, L. Lehner, O.L. Caballero, E. O'Connor, M. Anderson. arXiv: 1505.01607
  • Coupled Oscillator Model for Nonlinear Gravitational Perturbations Huan Yang, Fan Zhang, Stephen R. Green, Luis Lehner. Phys. Rev. D 91, 084007 (2015) .
  • Numerical Relativity and Astrophysics. Luis Lehner, Frans Pretorius. Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics Vol. 52: 661-694
  • Interaction of misaligned magnetospheres in the coalescence of binary neutron stars. Marcelo Ponce, Carlos Palenzuela, Luis Lehner, Steven L. Liebling. Phys. Rev. D 90, 044007 (2014) . arXiv: 1404.0692.
  • Holographic Thermalization, stability of AdS, and the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou paradox. Venkat Balasubramanian, Alex Buchel, Stephen R. Green, Luis Lehner, Steven L. Liebling. Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 071601 (2014). arXiv: 1403.6471.
  • Magnetized Neutron Stars With Realistic Equations of State and Neutrino Cooling. David Neilsen, Steven L. Liebling, Matthew Anderson, Luis Lehner, Evan O'Connor, Carlos Palenzuela. Phys. Rev. D 89, 104029 (2014). arXiv: 1403.3680.
  • A Holographic Path to the Turbulent Side of Gravity Stephen R. Green, Federico Carrasco, Luis Lehner. Phys. Rev. X 4, 011001 (2014) arXiv: 1309.7940.
  • Dynamical scalarization of neutron stars in scalar-tensor gravity theories. Carlos Palenzuela, Enrico Barausse, Marcelo Ponce, Luis Lehner. Phys. Rev. D 89, 044024 (2014). arXiv: 1310.4481
  • The Transient Gravitational-Wave Sky, N. Andersson et.al. arXiv: 1305.0816. (2013).
  • Boson Stars in AdS. Alex Buchel, Steven L. Liebling, Luis Lehner arXiv: 1304.4166 (2003). Phys. Rev. D 87, 123006 (2013).
  • Quantum quenches of holographic plasmas. Alex Buchel, Luis Lehner, Robert C. Myers, Anton van Niekerk. arXiv: 1302.2924 (2013).
  • Gravitational and electromagnetic outputs from binary neutron star mergers, C. Palenzuela, L. Lehner, et.al. arXiv: 1301.7074. (2013), Phys.Rev.Letters 111, 061105.
  • Turbulent flows for relativistic conformal fluids in 2+1 dimensions, F. Carrasco, L. Lehner, R. C. Myers, O. Reula and A. Singh, Phys.Rev. D86 (2012) 126006.
  • NR/HEP: roadmap for the future. V. Cardoso, et.al. arXiv: 1201.5118 (accepted Classical & Quantum Gravity)
  • Intense Electromagnetic Outbursts from Collapsing Hypermassive Neutron Stars. L. Lehner, C. Palenzuela, S. Liebling, C. Thompson, C. Hanna. arXiv: 1112.2622. (accepted Phys. Rev. D).
  • Final State of Gregory-Laflamme Instability. L. Lehner and F. Pretorius. arXiv: 1106.5184
  • Evolutions of Magnetized and Rotating Neutron Stars. S. Liebling, L. Lehner, D. Neilsen and C. Palenzuela. Phys.Rev. D81 (2010) 124023
  • Mergers of Magnetized Neutron Stars with Spinning Black Holes: Disruption, Accretion and Fallback. S. Chawla et. al. Phys.Rev.Lett. 105 (2010) 111101.
  • Black Strings, Low Viscosity Fluids, and Violation of Cosmic Censorship. L. Lehner and F. Pretorius, Phys.Rev.Lett. 105 (2010) 101102.
  • Dual Jets from Binary Black Holes. C. Palenzuela, L. Lehner and S. Liebling. Science 329 (2010) 927.
  • Gamma-radiation sky maps from compact binaries. N. Ortiz, F. Carrasco, S. Green, L. Lehner, S.L. Liebling, J. Westernacher-Schneider. 2107.07020
  • Quasinormal Modes Beyond Kerr. Aaron Zimmerman, Huan Yang, Zachary Mark, Yanbei Chen, Luis Lehner. Proceedings of the Sant Cugat Forum on Astrophysics (2014). arXiv: 1406.4206.
  • Probing Strong Field Gravity Through Numerical Simulations Chapter for the book: General Relativity and Gravitation: A Centennial Perspective. Matthew Choptuik, Luis Lehner and Frans Pretorius. (to appear May 2015)
  • Extensions to GR: Roadblocks & potential way through, Imperial College (online), January 2021.
  • Extensions to GR: Roadblocks & potential way through, Imperial College (online), January 2021.
  • Ubiquitous black holes and gravity in the 21st century (online), Research Institute for Fundamental Sciences, Tubitak, Dec 17th, 2020.
  • Hydro "inspirations" for beyond GR theories, Relativistic Hydrodynamics: Foundations, Novel Applications and Interdisciplinary Connections Program (online talk), Albert Einstein Institute, Potsdam. Dec 2020.
  • Efectos no lineales y overtones en espacio tiempos con agujeros negros, National University of Cordoba, Oct 1st, 2020.
  • Beyond GR, challenges and ways through, KITP Program: Probing Effective Theories of Gravity in Strong Fields and Cosmology, KITP-UCSB (online talk), Aug 2020.
  • Extensions to GR: Roadblocks & potential way through. ICTP, Trieste
  • Beyond GR, addressing (some) challenges. ICTP-SAIFR, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
  • Challenges and new opportunities in gravitational wave astronomy Cornell University.
  • Black hole spectroscopy & other surprises, Black Hole Initiative III Conference, Boston, Ms, May 2019.
  • ``The Dawn of Gravtiational Wave Science'' MITP Workshop. Mainz June 12, 2018.
  • Binary black holes and tests of gravity. Lake Cuomo ``Waves on the Lake'' School. May 28 - June 1, 2018.
  • Gravitational Wave Astronomy: Status, Promises and Challenges. TASI 2017 "Physics at the Fundamental Frontier". Boulder, Colorado,
  • Facing extensions to GR in strong field, dynamical regimes. Bangs, Bounces, Black Holes, and Bubbles: Where General Relativity meets Cosmology Workshop. PCTS, Princeton, May 11-12, 2017.
  • Gravitational Wave Astronomy. Israeli-American Symposium. Kavli Frontiers of Science Symposium. February 13-15, 2017. National Academy of Sciences.
  • Next challenges in gravitational wave astronomy. Astrophysics from LIGO's First Black Holes. KITP, University of California Sta Bba, Sta Bba, Ca, Aug 1-12 2016.
  • Surpises in (nonlinear) gravity, 21st International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation, New York, USA, July 15, 2016.
  • Surpises in (nonlinear) gravity Colloquim at Technion, Haifa, Israel, May 23, 2016.
  • Rattle and shine by compact binaries mergers 28th Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics, Geneva, Switzerland, Dec 13-18 (2015).
  • Surprises in (strong/non linear) gravity Caltech Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy Colloquim, Pasadena, California, Nov 5, 2015.
  • Compact binary systems and their role in astrophysics Compact Objects as Astrophysical and Gravitational Probes from 2 Feb 2015 through 6 Feb 2015. Lorentz Center. Netherlands
  • Turbulent black holes. Institute d"Astrophysique de Paris, Paris, July 15, 2014.
  • Turbulence to black holes and back again, New Frontiers in dynamical gravity. Center for Mathematical Sciences. DAMTP, Cambridge, March 24 28, 2014.
  • Holographic path to turbulence in gravity and back ICTP, Trieste, October 21, 2013.
  • Gravitational and (possible) electromagnetic signals from compact binaries Institute d"Astrophysique de Paris, Paris, October 25, 2013.
  • The turbulent side of gravity, Holographic Workshop. Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cambridge, UK, Sept 16-20, 2013.
  • Loud and Bright: gravitational and electromangetic energy output from compact binaries, Gravitational Waves: Revolution in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Japan, June 3-7, 2013.
  • "Black holes & membranes: observables & surprises?" Invited talk at "The State of the Universe" (meeting celebrating Hawking's 70th birthday), Jan 5th-8th 2012.
  • "Electromagnetic counterparts to loud gravitational events" Invited talk at "ICGC Conference", Goa, India, December 2011.
  • Final fate of black strings, Numerical Relativity Beyond Astrophysics, ICMS, Eddinburgh, Scotland
  • High powered jets from black hole spacetimes, HEPRO III,Barcelona, Spain,
  • "High powered jets from black hole spacetimes" Invited talk at "Shining light on Black Holes Workshop", IPMU, Japan. (February 2011)
  • Multimessenger astronomy with binary neutron stars Atlantic GR 17, St John"s, NL, Canada. June 1st, 2017.
  • Gravitational Wave Astronomy: Status, Promises and Challenges, TASI 2017 "Physics at the Fundamental Frontier". Boulder, Colorado, June 8th and 9th, 2017).
  • Surprises in nonlinear gravity and implications Atlantic GR 17, St John"s, NL, Canada. June 2nd, 2017.
  • Facing extensions to GR in strong field, dynamical regimes. Bangs, Bounces, Black Holes, and Bubbles: Where General Relativity meets Cosmology Workshop. PCTS, Princeton, May 11-12, 2017.
  • Gravitational waves: Theory. Lake Louise Winter Institute, Lake Louise, AB. Feb 19-25, 2017.
  • Gravitational Wave Astronomy Israeli-American Symposium. Kavli Frontiers of Science Symposium. February 13-15, 2017. National Academy of Sciences. Irvine, Ca
  • Opportunities & challenges in gravitational wave astronomy for addressing practical and fundamental ques- tions. New Frontiers in Gravitational Radiation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Dec 9-10, 2016.
  • Non-vacuum binaries Physics and Astrophysics at the eXtreme Workshop. Penn State, Dec-1-3, 2016.
  • Summary and future directions in GW astronomy. Foundations of the Theory of Gravitational Waves. 9-11 October 2016. Stokholm, Sweeden.
  • Next challenges in gravitational wave astronomy. strophysics from LIGO"s First Black Holes. KITP, University of California Sta Bba, Sta Bba, Ca, Aug 1-12 2016.
  • The strong gravity regime and its key role in physics Albert Einstein Institute, Golm & Hannover, Germany, August 15 & 16, 2016.
  • Surprises in (strong/non linear) gravity AlbaNova Colloquium, University of Stockholm, Oct 6, 2016.
  • PIRSA:15050142, Gary"s larger dimensions on Numerical Relativity and his turbulent influence, 2015-05-02, GaryFest - UCSB's Corwin Pavillion, UC Santa Barbara, California
  • PIRSA:14100108, Holographic Thermalization and Chaos, 2014-10-23, GaryFest - UCSB's Corwin Pavillion, UC Santa Barbara, California
  • PIRSA:12060025, Conformal Fluids and Turbulent Behaviour in 2+1 Dimensions, 2012-06-07, Exploring AdS/CFT Dualities in Dynamical Settings - 2012
  • PIRSA:12040056, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 14, 2012-04-20, 11/12 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:12040055, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 13, 2012-04-19, 11/12 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:12040054, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 12, 2012-04-18, 11/12 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:12040053, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 11, 2012-04-17, 11/12 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:12040052, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 10, 2012-04-16, 11/12 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:12040049, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 9, 2012-04-13, 11/12 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:12040048, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 8, 2012-04-12, 11/12 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:12040047, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 7, 2012-04-11, 11/12 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:12040046, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 6, 2012-04-10, 11/12 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:12040045, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 5, 2012-04-09, 11/12 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:12040041, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 4, 2012-04-05, 11/12 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:12040040, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 3, 2012-04-04, 11/12 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:12040039, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 2, 2012-04-03, 11/12 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:12040038, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 1, 2012-04-02, 11/12 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:11040057, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 14, 2011-04-21, 10/11 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:11040056, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 13, 2011-04-20, 10/11 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:11040055, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 12, 2011-04-19, 10/11 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:11040054, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 11, 2011-04-18, 10/11 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:11040044, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 5, 2011-04-08, 10/11 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:11040043, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 4, 2011-04-07, 10/11 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:11040042, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 3, 2011-04-06, 10/11 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:11040041, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 2, 2011-04-05, 10/11 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:11040040, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 1, 2011-04-04, 10/11 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:11020164, TBA, 2011-02-15, Colloquium
  • PIRSA:10030109, Explorations in Numerical Relativity - Lecture 10, 2010-03-26, 09/10 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:10030108, Explorations in Numerical Relativity (PHYS 642) - Lecture 9, 2010-03-25, 09/10 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:10030107, Explorations in Numerical Relativity (PHYS 642) - Lecture 8, 2010-03-24, 09/10 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:10030106, Explorations in Numerical Relativity (PHYS 642) - Lecture 7, 2010-03-23, 09/10 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:10030105, Explorations in Numerical Relativity (PHYS 642) - Lecture 6, 2010-03-22, 09/10 PSI - Explorations in Numerical Relativity
  • PIRSA:08050035, Numerical Relativity and a new frontier: Connecting the seen with the unseen., 2008-05-13, Cosmology & Gravitation
  • PIRSA:02050007, Towards obtaining the final fate of the black string, 2002-05-27, Cosmology & Gravitation