New insights into black hole scattering and gravitational waves unveiled
Their research provides a high-precision prediction of black hole scattering.
This research, led by Professor Jan Plefka at Humboldt University of Berlin and Queen Mary University London’s Dr Gustav Mogull, formerly at Humboldt Universität and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute), and conducted in collaboration with an international team of physicists, provides unprecedented precision in calculations crucial to understanding gravitational waves.
Using cutting-edge techniques inspired by quantum field theory, the team calculated the fifth post-Minkowskian (5PM) order for observables such as scattering angles, radiated energy, and recoil. A groundbreaking aspect of the work is the appearance of Calabi-Yau three-fold periods – geometric structures rooted in string theory and algebraic geometry – within the radiative energy and recoil. These structures, once considered purely mathematical, now find relevance in describing real-world astrophysical phenomena.
With gravitational wave observatories like LIGO entering a new phase of sensitivity and next-generation detectors such as LISA on the horizon, this research meets the increasing demand for theoretical models of extraordinary accuracy.
Dr Mogull explained the significance:
While the physical process of two black holes interacting and scattering via gravity ...
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