Fundamental Physics in Gravitational Wave Signals
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Mathematical Sciences
Abstract
Tests of General Relativity and Fundamental Physics is an important part of the mission of both ground based and space-based laser interferometer gravitational wave detectors. Numerous interesting scenarios have been identified, in which new fundamental physics is imprinted on gravitational wave signals. Ideally, one wants to go beyond testing how well General Relativity fits the data (null and consistency test) and confront it directly with alternative scenarios. Extracting new physics from gravitational wave data and potentially interpreting it is a challenging task. Identifying gravitational wave signatures of scenarios beyond general relativity, the standard model, or the standard cosmological model and producing accurate waveforms that quantify potential deviations are an essential part of this process. The need for such waveforms will become more and more acute in the future. The central goal of our proposal is to address this challenge. We will commence a programme that will allow us to transfers our significant expertise in fundamental physics and cosmology into gravitational wave signal modelling and work towards producing waveforms that can be used by LIGO, LISA and future laser interferometers to detect or constrain new fundamental physics. In particular, we will pursue the following lines of research:
- Alternative formulations of general relativity as the means to improve efficiency of numerical simulations that produce waveforms.
- Numerical modelling of binaries and production of complete waveforms beyond General Relativity and the Standard Model.
- The imprint of non-perturbative effects (e.g. dynamical scalarization) on the inspiral and/or merger part of a waveform.
- Extreme Mass Ratio Inspiral beyond general relativity
- Gravitational wave signatures from early universe processes, including phase transitions, stochastic signals, and cosmic string networks.
- Gravitational wave tests of new light fields (e.g. axion) and their coupling to gravity.
- Studying the imprint of proposed explanations to the cosmological constant problem (degravitation, phase transitions, tuning) can have on neutron stars structure and the corresponding waveforms.
- Alternative formulations of general relativity as the means to improve efficiency of numerical simulations that produce waveforms.
- Numerical modelling of binaries and production of complete waveforms beyond General Relativity and the Standard Model.
- The imprint of non-perturbative effects (e.g. dynamical scalarization) on the inspiral and/or merger part of a waveform.
- Extreme Mass Ratio Inspiral beyond general relativity
- Gravitational wave signatures from early universe processes, including phase transitions, stochastic signals, and cosmic string networks.
- Gravitational wave tests of new light fields (e.g. axion) and their coupling to gravity.
- Studying the imprint of proposed explanations to the cosmological constant problem (degravitation, phase transitions, tuning) can have on neutron stars structure and the corresponding waveforms.
Publications
Ventagli G
(2024)
Incompatibility of gravity theories with auxiliary fields with the standard model
in Physical Review D
Ventagli G
(2021)
Neutron star scalarization with Gauss-Bonnet and Ricci scalar couplings
Ventagli G
(2021)
Neutron star scalarization with Gauss-Bonnet and Ricci scalar couplings
in Physical Review D
Thaalba Farid
(2023)
Black hole minimum size and scalar charge in shift-symmetric theories
in Class.Quant.Grav.
Thaalba F
(2024)
Spherical collapse in scalar-Gauss-Bonnet gravity: Taming ill-posedness with a Ricci coupling
in Physical Review D
Spiers A
(2024)
Measuring scalar charge with compact binaries: High accuracy modeling with self-force
in Physical Review D
Spiers A
(2023)
Second-order Teukolsky formalism in Kerr spacetime: Formulation and nonlinear source
in Physical Review D
Silva H
(2021)
The ghost of vector fields in compact stars
Description | Einstein Telescope |
Organisation | European Commission |
Department | Einstein Telescope |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | The ET consortium is developing the EU-based 3rd generation gravitational wave detector named Einstein Telescope |
Collaborator Contribution | Sotiriou is a member of the ET Consortium |
Impact | N/A |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | LISA Consortium |
Organisation | European Space Agency |
Department | LISA/Pathfinder |
Country | France |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Sotiriou is a member of the LISA consortium. He is among the lead authors of LISA's Fundamental Physics White Paper. |
Collaborator Contribution | LISA is a international consortium responsible for a space-based gravitational wave detector scheduled for launch in 2037. |
Impact | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10714-020-02691-1 The white paper mention above is in its final stage of completions. White Paper in other topics are also in preparation (without my involvement) There is obviously a very large body of scientific publications, policy paper, etc. produced by the members of the LISA consortium. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | ABC Late Night Show |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | radio show |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/fantastic-numbers-and-where-to-find-them... |
Description | Big Issue Article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Magazine article on Graham's Number and Black Holes |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.bigissue.com/culture/there-really-is-a-number-so-big-it-could-make-your-mind-implode/ |
Description | Cool science radio interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | podcast |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.kpcw.org/podcast/cool-science-radio/2022-09-01/cool-science-radio-september-1-2022 |
Description | European Astrofest 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://europeanastrofest.com |
Description | Inquiring minds podcast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | podcast interview |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://inquiring.show/episodes/389-these-numbers-explain-the-nature-of-reality |
Description | Mindscape with Sean Carroll |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | podcast |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2022/10/17/214-antonio-padilla-on-large-numbers-and-the... |
Description | New Scientist Guest KeyBoard |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Article on TREE(3) for New Scientist |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://institutions.newscientist.com/article/2336176-the-number-that-is-too-big-for-the-universe/ |
Description | New Scientist Talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Talk for New Scientist online |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.newscientist.com/science-events/fantastic-numbers/ |
Description | New Scientist article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Magazine article on numbers and physics |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://institutions.newscientist.com/article/mg25533992-700-5-mind-bending-numbers-that-could-revea... |
Description | Next Big Ideas Club -Book Bites |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Audio piece covering main ideas from my book, Fantastic Numbers and Where to Find Them |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/fantastic-numbers-find-cosmic-quest-zero-infinity-bookbite/3600... |
Description | Numberphile podcast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | podcast |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y1NmzE8p4M |
Description | Numberphile video |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | YouTube vid |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdZrxkix9Mk |
Description | Numberphile video |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | YouTube vid |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_TEoUF12Yk |
Description | Royal Institution talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | RI talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/mysterious-numbers-unlocking-secrets-universe |
Description | Stuff to Blow Your Mind Podcast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Podcast |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/fantastic-numbers-with-antonio-padilla/id350359306?i=100057143... |
Description | Talk at Nakshatra NITT "World Space week" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | talk at undergrad society in India |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://medium.com/nakshatra |
Description | Talk at Derby High School |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | I gave a presentation at Derby High School on the nature of gravity and particle physics and their influence on cosmology, ranging from the very early Universe to today. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Talks at Google |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | talk online |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFnGw7Dik9o |
Description | Writers Voice podcast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | podcast |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.writersvoice.net/2022/10/antonio-padilla-fantastic-numbers-and-where-to-find-them-poet-r... |
Description | YouTube video NUmberphile |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | YouTube video Omicron (the symbol) in Mathematics - Numberphile |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXtfKMH6X44&feature=emb_imp_woyt |