We propose that the dynamics of Kerr black holes is strongly constrained by the principle of gauge symmetry. We initiate the construction of EFTs for Kerr black holes of any integer quantum spin s using Stueckelberg fields, and show that the known three-point Kerr amplitudes are uniquely predicted using massive higher-spin gauge symmetry. This symmetry is argued to be connected to an enhanced range of validity for the Kerr EFTs. We consider the closely related root-Kerr elect...

We construct a candidate tree-level gravitational Compton amplitude for a rotating Kerr black hole, for any quantum spin $s=0,1/2,1,\dots, \infty$, from which we extract the corresponding classical amplitude to all orders in the spin vector $S^\mu$. We use multiple insights from massive higher-spin quantum field theory, such as massive gauge invariance and improved behavior in the massless limit. A chiral-field approach is particularly helpful in ensuring correct degrees of f...

Scattering of two Kerr Black Holes emitting gravitational waves can be captured by an effective theory of a massive higher-spin field interacting with the gravitational field. While other compact objects should activate a multitude of non-minimal interactions it is the black holes that should be captured by the simplest minimal interaction. Implementing massive higher-spin symmetry via a string-inspired BRST approach we construct an action that reproduces the correct cubic am...

Quantum scattering amplitudes for massive matter have received new attention in connection to classical calculations relevant to gravitational-wave physics. Amplitude methods and insights are now employed for precision computations of observables needed for describing the gravitational dynamics of bound massive objects such as black holes. An important direction is the inclusion of spin effects needed to accurately describe rotating (Kerr) black holes. Higher-spin amplitudes ...

We continue to investigate correspondences between, on the one hand, scattering amplitudes for massive higher-spin particles and gravitons in appropriate quantum-to-classical limits, and on the other hand, classical gravitational interactions of spinning black holes according to general relativity. We first construct an ansatz for a gravitational Compton amplitude, at tree level, constrained only by locality, crossing symmetry, unitarity and consistency with the linearized-Ke...

In this paper, we explore the physics of electromagnetically and gravitationally coupled massive higher spin states from the on-shell point of view. Starting with the three-point amplitude, we focus on the simplest amplitude which is characterized by matching to minimal coupling in the UV. In the IR such amplitude leads to g = 2 for arbitrary charged spin states, and the best high energy behavior for a given spin. We proceed to construct the (gravitational) Compton amplitude ...

We develop a novel amplitude bootstrap technique manifestly free of unphysical poles for classically spinning particles interacting with gravitons utilizing only the gauge/gravity double-copy and physical factorization limits. Combined with non-factorization polynomial contact contributions from physical data for Kerr black holes, we can address high-spin-order covariant gravitational Compton amplitudes, identifying a pattern for the amplitude that we believe could extend to ...

The classical scattering of spinning objects is well described by the spinor-helicity formalism for heavy particles. Using these variables, we derive spurious-pole-free, all-spin opposite-helicity Compton amplitudes (factorizing on physical poles to the minimal, all-spin three-point amplitudes of ref. \cite{Arkani-Hamed:2017jhn}) in the classical limit for QED, QCD, and gravity. The cured amplitudes are subject to deformations by contact terms, the vast majority of whose cont...

Previously the linearized stress tensor of a stationary Kerr black hole has been used to determine some of the values of gravitational couplings for a spinning black hole to linear order in the Riemann tensor in the action (worldline or quantum field theory). In particular, the couplings on operators containing derivative structures of the form $(S\cdot\nabla)^n$ acting on the Riemann tensor were fixed, with $S^\mu$ the spin vector of the black hole. In this paper we find tha...

Quantum higher-spin theory applied to Compton amplitudes has proven to be surprisingly useful for elucidating Kerr black hole dynamics. Here we apply the framework to compute scattering amplitudes and observables for a binary system of two rotating black holes, at second post-Minkowskian order, and to all orders in the spin-multipole expansion for certain quantities. Starting from the established three-point and conjectured Compton quantum amplitudes, the infinite-spin limit ...