An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The last stage of → merger between two → black holes undergoing → inspiral. At the end of the evolution of a → binary black hole system, the black holes get close enough to → merge together into a single, larger black hole (→ black hole merger). The resulting black hole is at first distorted and asymmetric, but in the ringdown process the black hole’s vibrations decay due to → gravitational radiation leaving finally a quiescent, spinning black hole.

Etymology (EN): M.E. ring, from O.E. hringan; akin to O.Norse hringja “to ring;” → down.