Einstein Telescope Research Articles

Gravitational-wave and Gravitational-wave Memory Signatures of Core-collapse Supernovae

In this paper, we calculate the energy, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), detection range, and angular anisotropy of the matter, matter memory, and neutrino memory gravitational-wave (GW) signatures of 21 three-dimensional initially nonrotating core-collapse supernova (CCSN) models carried to late times. We find that inferred energy, SNR, and detection range are angle-dependent quantities, and that the spread of possible energy, signal to noise, and detection ranges across all viewing angles generally increases with progenitor mass. When examining the low-frequency matter memory and neutrino memory components of the signal, we find that the neutrino memory is the most detectable component of a CCSN GW signal, and that DECIGO is best equipped to detect both matter memory and neutrino memory. Moreover, we find that the polarization angle between the h + and h × strains serves as a unique identifier of matter and neutrino memory. Finally, we develop a Galactic density- and stellar mass-weighted formalism to calculate the rate at which we can expect to detect CCSN GW signals with the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (aLIGO). When considering only the matter component of the signal, the aLIGO detection rate is around 65% of the total Galactic supernova rate, but increases to 90% when incorporating the neutrino memory component. We find that all future detectors (Einstein Telescope, Cosmic Explorer, DECIGO) will be able to detect CCSN GW signals from the entire Galaxy, and for the higher-mass progenitors even into the Local Group of galaxies.

Approaches of frequency-dependent squeezing for the low frequency detector of the Einstein Telescope

The quantum noise in gravitational-wave detectors can be suppressed in a broadband by frequency-dependent squeezing. It usually requires one large scale filter cavity and even two, for example in the low frequency detector of Einstein Telescope, which is a detuned dual recycling Fabry-Perot Michelson interferometer. In this paper, we study the feasibility of replacing two filter cavities with a coupled-cavity, aiming to reduce the optical losses with less number of optics. It turns out this approach is only theoretically valid, however, the required parameters of the optics do not support practical implementation, which is consistent with the results in Jones [Implications of the quantum noise target for the Einstein Telescope infrastructure design, ]. Furthermore, we investigate the viability of utilizing Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) squeezing to eliminate either one or two filter cavities in the Einstein Telescope. It turns out EPR squeezing would allow us to eliminate one filter cavity, and can potentially improve the detector sensitivity with the allowance of higher input squeezing level, benefiting from the longer length of the arm cavity which serves as one of the filter cavities for frequency-dependent squeezing. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Comparison of arm cavity optical losses for the two wavelengths of the Einstein telescope gravitational wave detector

Abstract A new generation of gravitational wave detectors is currently being designed with the likely use of a different laser wavelength compared to current instruments. The estimation of the optical losses for this new wavelength is particularly relevant to derive the detector sensitivity and also to anticipate the optical performances of future instruments. In this article, we measured the absorption and angle-resolved scattering of several mirror samples in order to compare optical losses at a wavelength of 1064 and 1550 nm. In addition, we have carried out simulations of the Einstein Telescope arm cavities at 1064 and 1550 nm taking into account losses due to surface low-spatial frequency flatness. Our results suggest that optical losses as measured at 1064 nm are about twice as large as those at 1550 nm as predicted with a simple model.

On the initial spin periods of magnetars born in weak supernova explosions and their gravitational wave radiation

The initial spin periods of newborn magnetars are strongly associated with the origin of their strong magnetic fields, both of which can affect the electromagnetic radiation and gravitational waves (GWs) emitted at their birth. Combining the upper limit ESNR≲1051\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$E_{\ extrm{SNR}}\\lesssim 10^{51}$$\\end{document} erg on the explosion energies of the supernova (SN) remnants around slowly-spinning magnetars with a detailed investigation on the evolution of newborn magnetars, we set constraints on the initial spin periods of magnetars born in weak SN explosions. Depending on the conversion efficiency η\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\eta $$\\end{document} of the electromagnetic energy of these newborn magnetars into the kinetic energy of SN ejecta, the minimum initial spin periods of these newborn magnetars are Pi, min≃5\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$P_{\ extrm{i, min}}\\simeq 5$$\\end{document}–6 ms for an ideal efficiency η=1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\eta =1$$\\end{document}, Pi, min≃3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$P_{\ extrm{i, min}}\\simeq 3$$\\end{document}–4 ms for a possible efficiency η=0.4\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\eta =0.4$$\\end{document}, and Pi, min≃1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$P_{\ extrm{i, min}}\\simeq 1$$\\end{document}–2 ms for a relatively low efficiency η=0.1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\eta =0.1$$\\end{document}. Based on these constraints and adopting reasonable values for the physical parameters of the newborn magnetars, we find that their GW radiation at νe,1=ν\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ u _{\ extrm{e,1}}=\ u $$\\end{document} may be undetectable by the Einstein Telescope (ET) since the maximum signal-to-noise ratio (S/N\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\mathrm{S/N}$$\\end{document}) is only 2.41 even the sources are located at a very close distance of 5 Mpc, where ν\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ u $$\\end{document} are the spin frequencies of the magnetars. At such a distance, the GWs emitted at νe,2=2ν\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ u _{\ extrm{e,2}}=2\ u $$\\end{document} from the newborn magnetars with dipole fields Bd=5×1014\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$B_{\ extrm{d}}=5\ imes 10^{14}$$\\end{document} and 1015\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$10^{15}$$\\end{document} G may be detectable by the ET because S/N\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\mathrm{S/N}$$\\end{document} are 10.01 and 19.85, respectively. However, if these newborn magnetars are located at 20 Mpc away in the Virgo supercluster, no GWs could be detected by the ET due to low S/N\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\mathrm{S/N}$$\\end{document}.

Theoretical probes of Higgs boson-axion nonperturbative couplings

In this work we investigate the phenomenological implications of several nontrivial Higgs-boson- axion couplings, which cover most of the possible nonperturbative scenarios. Specifically we consider the combination of having higher-order nonrenormalizable Higgs-boson-axion couplings originating from a weakly coupled effective theory combined with nonperturbative couplings of the form ∼εΛc2|H|2cos(ϕfa). Since we consider the misalignment axion, the nonperturbative couplings can be expanded in the form of a perturbation expansion in powers of ϕ/fa, thus after the electroweak symmetry breaking, the effective potential of the axion is drastically affected by these terms. We investigate the phenomenological implications of these terms for various values of the mass scale Λc, and some scenarios are theoretically disfavored, while other scenarios with nonperturbative Higgs-boson-axion couplings of the form ∼εΛc2|H|2cos(ϕfa) with Λc∼10−10×ma and ma∼10−10 eV, lead to a characteristic pattern in the stochastic gravitational wave background via the deformation of the background equation of state parameter occurring at frequencies probed by the Einstein Telescope. We also consider loop effects from the Higgs sector caused by the term ∼εΛc2|H|2cos(ϕfa) if we close the Higgs in one loop. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Modelling Newtonian noise of vibroacoustic origin in the Virgo gravitational wave detector

With ~100 detections by the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA network, gravitational astronomy has definitely begun. The Virgo detector is a modified Michelson interferometer with two arms of 3km each, made of optical resonator housing ~100 kW laser beams. It can measure a gravitational strain (ΔL/L) of ~10^(-21). The detector is susceptible to various sources of noise within specific frequency bands. Among these, the "Newtonian" or "gravity-gradient" noise (seismic and atmospheric/acoustic) could limit the low-frequency sensitivity (below a few tens of Hz) of LIGO and Virgo as they reach their full sensitivity, as well as that of next-generation detectors such as the European Einstein Telescope and the US Cosmic Explorer. This paper focuses on modeling Newtonian noise of acoustic origin, which refers to the small fluctuations in the gravity field resulting from the acoustic field present in the experimental halls. The fluctuating gravitational field directly causes random forces on sensitive optical elements, such as the interferometer test masses. The induced noise is quantified using a numerical acoustic model of the experimental room when it is excited by the air conditioning system.

A novel Real-time Control System for next generation gravitational-wave detectors

This contribution presents the INFN Pisa group research and development efforts aimed at defining and implementing a novel Real-time Control System (RCS) for next-generation interferometers, focusing on the initial phase of the Einstein Telescope (ET) gravitational wave detector. The RCS handles complex closed-loop systems, managing data collection from sensing elements, processing and actuator control within well defined time constraints. It integrates multiple spatially distributed control units, facilitating communications among them, with external systems as well as with users. Two distinct hardware approaches are explored: “Katane” and “Zancle”. These systems primarily differ in their core processing elements. The “Katane” system is built on powerful DSP processor boards, based on the Super-Attenuator control system, developed at INFN Pisa for Advanced Virgo detector. It uses the MicroTCA.4 architecture standard, ensuring flexibility, easy maintenance, and fast data exchange among the various custom modules, including several types of Front-End data converter boards, FPGA-based pre-processing boards, DSPs and standard processors. On the other hand, ”Zancle” explores GPU-based processing, aiming to use cost-effective consumer market systems and to leverage substantial computational power of these devices, also incorporating machine learning algorithms.

Combining underground and on-surface third-generation gravitational-wave interferometers

Recently, detailed studies have been made to compare the performance of the European next generation GW observatory Einstein Telescope (ET) in a single-site triangular configuration with the performance of a configuration featuring two L-shaped detectors in different sites, still taken to have all other ET characteristics except for the geometry, in particular, underground and composed of a low-frequency interferometer working at cryogenic temperatures and a high-frequency interferometer working at room temperature.Here we study a further possibility for a European network, made by a single L-shaped underground detector, like one of the detectors considered for the 2L version of ET, and a single third-generation 20-km L-shaped interferometer on the surface.We compare the performances of such a network to those of the triangle and of the 2L-underground ET configurations. We then examine the performance of an intercontinental network made by a 40-km CE in the U.S., together with any of these European networks.

Gravitational wave luminosity distance-weighted anisotropies

Measurements of the luminosity distance of propagating gravitational waves can provide invaluable information on the geometry and content of our Universe. Due to the clustering of cosmic structures, in realistic situations we need to average the luminosity distance of events coming from patches inside a volume. In this work we evaluate, in a gauge-invariant and fully-relativistic treatment, the impact of cosmological perturbations on such averaging process. We find that clustering, lensing and peculiar velocity effects impact estimates for future detectors such as Einstein Telescope, Cosmic Explorer, the Big Bang Observer and DECIGO. The signal-to-noise ratio of the angular power spectrum of the average luminosity distance over all the redshift bins is 17 in the case of binary black holes detected by Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer. We also provide fitting formulas for the corrections to the average luminosity distance due to general relativistic effects.

Gravitational Wave Ringdown Analysis Using the F -statistic

After the final stage of the merger of two black holes (BHs), the ringdown signal takes an important role in providing information about the gravitational dynamics in strong field. We introduce a novel time-domain (TD) approach, predicated on the F -statistic, for ringdown analysis. This method diverges from traditional TD techniques in that its parameter space remains constant irrespective of the number of modes incorporated. This feature is achieved by reconfiguring the likelihood and analytically maximizing over the extrinsic parameters that encompass the amplitudes and reference phases of all modes. Consequently, when performing the ringdown analysis under the assumption that the ringdown signal is detected by the Einstein Telescope, the parameter estimation computation time is shortened by at most 5 orders of magnitude compared to the traditional TD method. We further establish that traditional TD methods become difficult when including multiple overtone modes due to close oscillation frequencies and damping times across different overtone modes. Encouragingly, this issue is effectively addressed by our new TD technique. The accessibility of this new TD method extends to a broad spectrum of research and offers flexibility for various topics within BH spectroscopy applicable to both current and future gravitational wave detectors.

Parametric resonance of gravitational waves in general scalar-tensor theories

Gravitational waves offer a potent mean to test the underlying theory of gravity. In general theories of gravity, such as scalar-tensor theories, one expects modifications in the friction term and the sound speed in the gravitational wave equation. In that case, rapid oscillations in such coefficients, e.g. due to an oscillating scalar field, may lead to narrow parametric resonances in the gravitational wave strain. We perform a general analysis of such possibility within DHOST theories. We use disformal transformations to find the theory space with larger resonances, within an effective field theory approach. We then apply our formalism to a non-minimally coupled ultra-light dark matter scalar field, assuming the presence of a primordial gravitational wave background, e.g., from inflation. We find that the resonant peaks in the spectral density may be detectable by forthcoming detectors such as LISA, Taiji, Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer.

Enhanced primordial gravitational waves from a stiff postinflationary era due to an oscillating inflaton

We investigate two classes of inflationary models, which lead to a stiff period after inflation that boosts the signal of primordial gravitational waves (GWs). In both families of models studied, we consider an oscillating scalar condensate, which when far away from the minimum is overdamped by a warped kinetic term, la α-attractors. This leads to successful inflation. The oscillating condensate is in danger of becoming fragmented by resonant effects when nonlinearities take over. Consequently, the stiff phase cannot be prolonged enough to enhance primordial GWs at frequencies observable in the near future for low orders of the envisaged scalar potential. However, this is not the case for a higher-order scalar potential. Indeed, we show that this case results in a boosted GW spectrum that overlaps with future observations without generating too much GW radiation to destabilize big bang nucleosynthesis. For example, taking α=O(1), we find that the GW signal can be safely enhanced up to ΩGW(f)∼10−11 at frequency f∼102 Hz, which will be observable by the Einstein Telescope. Our mechanism ends up with a characteristic GW spectrum, which if observed, can lead to the determination of the inflation energy scale, the reheating temperature, and the shape (steepness) of the scalar potential around the minimum. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Future targets for light gauge bosons from cosmic strings

Cosmic strings, theoretical one-dimensional topological defects from the early universe, provide a valuable opportunity for exploring dark matter (DM) production and gravitational wave (GW) emission. Our study investigates the production of gauge bosons and GW emission from cosmic string decay, considering the constraints imposed by cosmological observations. We specifically examine how gauge bosons radiated from strings contribute to DM and dark radiation, with limits set by the observed DM abundance and cosmic microwave background data, respectively. Additionally, we analyze the gravitational wave spectrum of this model across both low and high frequencies. Notably, the spectrum typically follows a f−1/3 pattern at high frequencies, beyond the pivot frequency f∗. We derive an analytical expression for the frequency f∗ and confirm its accuracy through numerical verification. Furthermore, we compare the GW spectrum of this model with the forecasted capabilities of future GW observatories, such as the Einstein Telescope, the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, the Big Bang Observer, and μAres. Finally, we discuss how these considerations impact the model parameters, specifically the gauge boson mass and the energy scale of U(1) symmetry breaking, providing insights into how cosmic strings could enhance our understanding of DM and GW astronomy.

Characterizing gravitational wave detector networks: From A# to Cosmic Explorer

Abstract Gravitational-wave observations by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and Virgo have provided us a new tool to explore the Universe on all scales from nuclear physics to the cosmos and have the massive potential to further impact fundamental physics, astrophysics, and cosmology for decades to come. In this paper we have studied the science capabilities of a network of LIGO detectors when they reach their best possible sensitivity, called A#, given the infrastructure in which they exist and a new generation of observatories that are factor of 10 to 100 times more sensitive (depending on the frequency), in particular a pair of L-shaped Cosmic Explorer observatories (one 40 km and one 20 km arm length) in the US and the triangular Einstein Telescope with 10 km arms in Europe. We use science metrics derived from the top priorities of several funding agencies to characterize the science capabilities of different networks. The presence of one or two A# observatories in a network containing two or one next generation observatories, respectively, will provide good localization capabilities for facilitating multimessenger astronomy and precision measurement of the Hubble parameter. Two Cosmic Explorer observatories are indispensable for achieving precise localization of binary neutron stars, facilitating detection of electromagnetic counterparts and transforming multimessenger astronomy. Their combined operation is even more important in the detection and localization of high-redshift sources, such as binary neutron stars, beyond the star-formation peak, and primordial black hole mergers, which may occur roughly 100 million years after the Big Bang. The addition of the Einstein Telescope to a network of two Cosmic Explorer observatories is critical for accomplishing all the identified science metrics. For most metrics the triple network of next generation terrestrial observatories are a factor 100 better than what can be accomplished by a network of three A# observatories.

Prospect of Precision Cosmology and Testing General Relativity using Binary Black Holes- Galaxies Cross-correlation

Abstract Modified theories of gravity predict deviations from General Relativity (GR) in the propagation of gravitational waves (GW) across cosmological distances. A key prediction is that the GW luminosity distance will vary with redshift, differing from the electromagnetic (EM) luminosity distance due to varying effective Planck mass. We introduce a model-independent, data-driven approach to explore these deviations using multi-messenger observations of dark standard sirens (Binary Black Holes, BBH). By combining GW luminosity distance measurements from dark sirens with Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) measurements, BBH redshifts inferred from cross-correlation with spectroscopic or photometric galaxy surveys, and sound horizon measurements from the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), we can make a data-driven test of GR (jointly with the Hubble constant) as a function of redshift. Using the multi-messenger technique with the spectroscopic DESI galaxy survey, we achieve precise measurements of deviations in the effective Planck mass variation with redshift. For the Cosmic Explorer and Einstein Telescope (CEET), the best precision is approximately 3.6%, and for LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK), it is 7.4% at a redshift of $\rm {z = 0.425}$. Additionally, we can measure the Hubble constant with a precision of about 1.1% from CEET and 7% from LVK over five years of observation with a 75% duty cycle. We also explore the potential of cross-correlation with photometric galaxy surveys from the Rubin Observatory, extending measurements up to a redshift of $\rm {z \sim 2.5}$. This approach can reveal potential deviations from models affecting GW propagation using numerous dark standard sirens in synergy with DESI and the Rubin Observatory.

Gravitational-wave background in bouncing models from semi-classical, quantum and string gravity

We study the primordial spectra and the gravitational-wave background (GWB) of three models of semi-classical, quantum or string gravity where the big bang is replaced by a bounce and the primordial tensor spectrum is blue: ekpyrotic universe with fast-rolling Galileons, string-gas cosmology with Atick-Witten conjecture and pre-big-bang cosmology. We find that the ekpyrotic scenario with Galileons does not produce a GWB amplitude detectable by present or third-generation interferometers, while the Atick-Witten-based string-gas model is ruled out in its present form for violating the big-bang-nucleosynthesis bound, contrary to the original string-gas scenario. In contrast, the GWB of the pre-big-bang scenario falls within the sensitivity window of both LISA and Einstein Telescope, where it takes the form of a single or a broken power law depending on the choice of parameters. The latter will be tightly constrained by both detectors.

Type-I two-Higgs-doublet model and gravitational waves from domain walls bounded by strings

The spontaneous breaking of a U(1) symmetry via an intermediate discrete symmetry may yield a hybrid topological defect of domain walls bounded by cosmic strings. The decay of this defect network leads to a unique gravitational wave signal spanning many orders in observable frequencies, that can be distinguished from signals generated by other sources. We investigate the production of gravitational waves from this mechanism in the context of the type-I two-Higgs-doublet model extended by a U(1)R symmetry, that simultaneously accommodates the seesaw mechanism, anomaly cancellation, and eliminates flavour-changing neutral currents. The gravitational wave spectrum produced by the string-bounded-wall network can be detected for U(1)R breaking scale from 1012 to 1015 GeV in forthcoming interferometers including LISA and Einstein Telescope, with a distinctive f3 slope and inflexion in the frequency range between microhertz and hertz.

Impact of lensing of gravitational waves on the observed distribution of neutron star masses

The distribution of masses of neutron stars, particularly the maximum mass value, is considered a probe of their formation, evolution and internal physics (i.e., equation of state). This mass distribution could in principle be inferred from the detection of gravitational waves from binary neutron star mergers. Using mock catalogues of 105 dark sirens events, expected to be detected by Einstein Telescope over an operational period of , we show how the biased luminosity distance measurement induced by gravitational lensing affects the inferred redshift and mass of the merger. This results in higher observed masses than expected. Up to 2% of the events are predicted to fall above the maximum allowed neutron star mass depending on the intrinsic mass distribution and signal-to-noise ratio threshold adopted. The underlying true mass distribution and maximum mass could still be approximately recovered in the case of bright standard sirens.

Post-Minkowskian theory meets the spinning effective-one-body approach for two-body scattering

Effective-one-body (EOB) waveforms employed by the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration have primarily been developed by resumming the post-Newtonian expansion of the relativistic two-body problem. Given the recent significant advancements in post-Minkowskian (PM) theory and gravitational self-force formalism, there is considerable interest in creating waveform models that integrate information from various perturbative methods in innovative ways. This becomes particularly crucial when tackling the accuracy challenge posed by upcoming ground-based detectors (such as the Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer) and space-based detectors (such as LISA, TianQin, or Taiji) expected to operate in the next decade. In this context, we present the derivation of the first spinning EOB (SEOB) Hamiltonian that incorporates PM results up to three-loop order: the SEOB-PM model. The model accounts for the complete hyperbolic motion, encompassing nonlocal-in-time tails. To evaluate its accuracy, we compare its predictions for the conservative scattering angle, augmented with dissipative contributions, against numerical-relativity data of nonspinning and spinning equal-mass black holes. We observe very good agreement, comparable, and in some cases slightly better to the recently proposed wEOB-potential model, of which the SEOB-PM model is a resummation around the probe limit. Indeed, in the probe limit, the SEOB-PM Hamiltonian and scattering angles reduce to the one of a test mass in Kerr spacetime. Once complemented with nonlocal-in-time contributions for bound orbits, the SEOB-PM Hamiltonian can be utilized to generate waveform models for spinning black holes on quasicircular orbits. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

A model-independent tripartite test of cosmic distance relations

Cosmological distances are fundamental observables in cosmology. The luminosity (D L), angular diameter (D A) and gravitational wave (D GW) distances are all trivially related in General Relativity assuming no significant absorption of photons in the extragalactic medium, also known as cosmic opacity. Supernovae have long been the main cosmological standard candle, but bright standard sirens are now a proven alternative, with the advantage of not requiring calibration with other astrophysical sources. Moreover, they can also measure deviations from modified gravity through discrepancies between D L and D GW. However, both gravitational and cosmological parameters are degenerate in the Hubble diagram, making it hard to properly detect beyond standard model physics. Finally, recently a model-independent method named FreePower was proposed to infer angular diameter distances from large-scale structure which is independent of the knowledge of both early universe and dark energy physics. In this paper we propose a tripartite test of the ratios of these three distances with minimal amount of assumptions regarding cosmology, the early universe, cosmic opacity and modified gravity. We proceed to forecast this test with a combination of LSST and Roman supernovae, Einstein Telescope bright sirens and a joint DESI-like + Euclid-like galaxy survey. We find that even in this very model-independent approach we will be able to detect, in each of many redshift bins, percent-level deviations in these ratios of distances, allowing for very precise consistency checks of ΛCDM and standard physics. It can also result in sub-percent measurements of H 0.