Physics Seminar
Date: Wednesday, 20th March 2024
Time: 2:00 PM
Venue: Lecture Hall 2
Testing general theory of relativity with gravitational waves from binary black holes in eccentric orbits
Pankaj Saini
Chennai Mathematical Institute.
20-03-24

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Abstract

Gravitational-wave observations provide a unique opportunity to test general relativity (GR) in the strong-field and highly dynamical regime of gravity. The parametrized post-Newtonian (PN) tests of GR are one well-known approach for quantifying violations of GR. This approach constrains deviations in the coefficients of the post-Newtonian phasing formula, which describes the gravitational-wave phase evolution of a compact binary as it inspirals. Current testing GR infrastructure by LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration assumes the binary black holes (BBHs) have already been circularized due to the emission of GWs. However, population simulations predict that a subpopulation of BBHs can retain residual eccentricity in the frequency band of GW detectors. To perform robust parametrized tests of GR with eccentric binaries, corrections due to orbital eccentricity need to be taken into account in the waveform. In this talk, I will talk about the possible ways to test GR with eccentric binaries in a theory-agnostic way.