Abstract: Light scalar particles arise naturally in many extensions of the Standard Model and are compelling dark matter candidates. Gravitational interactions near black holes can trigger the growth of dense scalar configurations that, if sustained during inspiral, alter binary dynamics and imprint signatures on gravitational-wave signals. In this talk I will describe the use of numerical relativity simulations to develop a waveform model for black hole binaries in scalar-field environments, which we apply it in a Bayesian analysis of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA catalog.

This seminar is part of the "Holography in the Gravitational Wave Era” (HOLOGW) project (with grant agreement number 101141909) funded by the European Union / ERC: