Speaker: Juan Calderon-Bustillo (Univ. of Santiago de Compostela)
Title: Using numerical relativity to search for physics beyond the standard model in gravitational-wave observations: high-mass LIGO-Virgo events as boson-star mergers
Abstract:
Gravitational-wave astronomy has delivered dramatic leaps forward in our understanding of gravity, astrophysics and our Universe at large. Despite this success, we are yet to find evidence for one of the holy grails for current scientific research: physics beyond general relativity (GR) and standard model of particle physics (SM). To this end, ultra-light bosons are not only one of the simplest extensions of the SM but are also widely considered good candidates to build up part of dark matter. For this reason, important efforts are being dedicated towards searching for these particles and, specifically, for the impact of boson clouds on black-holes. In this talk I will discuss an alternative strategy to look for these particles. In particular, I will present the first systematic comparison, within the framework of Bayesian inference, of LIGO-Virgo events to a signal model for a specific type of object beyond the SM, namely a set of nearly 1000 numerical simulations of mergers of exotic objects known as (vector) boson-stars: self-gravitating condensates of ultralight bosons. I will discuss the chances that a fraction of the underlying population of these events correspond to boson-star mergers instead of black-hole ones, providing estimates of the mass of the corresponding ultralight boson. If time permits, I will also discuss the effect of the quantum properties of boson-stars in their gravitational emission and the consequence of its inclusion in parameter inference and model selection.
Room: Sala de Reuniões e Seminários (2-8.3) (2nd Floor of Physics Building)