Search

Abstract Einstein–Maxwell-scalar models allow for different classes of black hole solutions, depending on the non-minimal coupling function $$f(\phi )$$ f ( ϕ ) employed, between the scalar field and the Maxwell invariant. Here, we address the linear mode stability of the black hole solutions obtained recently for a quartic coupling function, $$f(\phi )=1+\alpha \phi ^4$$ f ( ϕ ) = 1 + α ϕ 4 (Blázquez-Salcedo et al. in Phys. Lett. B 806:135493, 2020). Besides the bald Reissner–Nordström solutions, this coupling allows for two branches of scalarized black holes, termed cold and hot, respectively. For these three branches of black holes we calculate the spectrum of quasinormal modes. It consists of polar scalar-led modes, polar and axial electromagnetic-led modes, and polar and axial gravitational-led modes. We demonstrate that the only unstable mode present is the radial scalar-led mode of the cold branch. Consequently, the bald Reissner–Nordström branch and the hot scalarized branch are both mode-stable. The non-trivial scalar field in the scalarized background solutions leads to the breaking of the degeneracy between axial and polar modes present for Reissner–Nordström solutions. This isospectrality is only slightly broken on the cold branch, but it is strongly broken on the hot branch.

Abstract We calculate the quasinormal modes of static spherically symmetric dilatonic Reissner–Nordström black holes for general values of the electric charge and of the dilaton coupling constant. The spectrum of quasinormal modes is composed of five families of modes: polar and axial gravitational-led modes, polar and axial electromagnetic-led modes, and polar scalar-led modes. We make a quantitative analysis of the spectrum, revealing its dependence on the electric charge and on the dilaton coupling constant. For large electric charge and large dilaton coupling, strong deviations from the Reissner–Nordström modes arise. In particular, isospectrality is strongly broken, both for the electromagnetic-led and the gravitational-led modes, for large values of the charge.