TAPIR Seminar

With great precision comes great challenges: Gravitational Wave Observations of Extreme Mass Ratio Inspirals

Lorenzo Speri, Graduate Student, Astrophysical and Cosmological Relativity, Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (AEI),

In person: 370 Cahill. To Join via Zoom: 864 8902 5566

ABSTRACT: The future mission, Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), will be the first space-based gravitational wave observatory, opening a new window in the millihertz regime. Among the sources LISA is expected to observe, Extreme Mass Ratio Inspirals (EMRIs) are binary systems composed of stellar-mass compact objects orbiting into massive black holes at the center of galaxies. EMRI observations are anticipated to provide parameter measurements to sub-percent precision. However, such high precision is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, EMRI observations offer a unique opportunity to test gravity and probe the environments surrounding the massive black holes. On the other hand, the rapid generation of their waveforms is challenging due to the extended signal duration and its complex harmonic content. In this talk, I will present the FastEMRIWaveform package, a framework to generate accurate EMRI waveforms in milliseconds, and I will discuss its applications in EMRI scientific exploita
tion. I will demonstrate the scientific potential of EMRIs in testing the nature of gravity and probing accretion physics. Finally, I will discuss the path forward in waveform development and explain the challenge of searching for EMRIs in the LISA data.

Event Sponsors:

Theoretical AstroPhysics Including Relativity and Cosmology (TAPIR) - More events from this Sponsor

For more information, please contact JoAnn Boyd by phone at 626-395-4280 or by email at [email protected].