General Relativity & Quantum Cosmology

Extreme mass-ratio binary black hole systems, known as EMRIs, are expected to radiate low-frequency gravitational waves detectable by planned space-based Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). We hope to use these systems to probe black hole spacetimes in exquisite detail and make precision measurements of supermassive black hole properties. Accurate models using general relativistic perturbation theory will allow us to unlock the potential of these unique systems. Such models must include post-geodesic corrections, which account for forces driving the smaller black hole away from a geodesic trajectory. When a spinning body orbits a black hole, its spin couples to the curvature of the background spacetime, introducing post-geodesic correction called the spin-curvature force. In this talk, I will present our calculation of EMRI waveforms that include both spin-curvature forces and the leading backreaction due to gravitational radiation. We use a near-identity transformation to eliminate dependence on the orbital phases, allowing for very fast computation of completely generic worldlines of spinning bodies; such efficiency is crucial for LISA data analysis. Finally, I will discuss what aspects still need to be included in future calculations so that we can use EMRIs for a new era of precision gravitational-wave astronomy, addressing outstanding puzzles in astrophysics, cosmology and fundamental theoretical physics.

---

Zoom link https://pitp.zoom.us/j/91917788358?pwd=MWp5OUhxbkRmZDFxWWE4cHR0VlBTUT09

Abstract TBA

---

Zoom link https://pitp.zoom.us/j/92901106970?pwd=SEdZajRQYWlrQzJhRnM0WnRpeHVNdz09

In the last years, asymptotic symmetries have regained a lot of interest, and various extensions of the well known BMS group have been considered in the literature. Many charges associated to the diffeomorphisms of the sphere (superboosts and superrotations) have been proposed, but it has not been clear if these charges can be derived from a symplectic potential that is covariant and stationary, i.e satisfying the Wald-Zoupas usual requirements. In this talk I will consider a new asymptotic symmetry group, which is a one dimensional extension of the generalized-BMS group, and construct a stationary symplectic potential, covariant with respect to these symmetries, by adding corner terms to the usual Einstein-Hilbert symplectic potential. Then, we will recover the charges introduced by Compère, Fiorucci and Ruzziconi for superboosts and superrotations. In order to ensure covariance, we will need to introduce an edge mode which has already appeared in the literature, the supertranslation field. I will also explain that its introduction as a corner term can lead us to construct a local (asymptotic) notion of energy for the gravitational waves, providing a physical interpretation of the new charges.

---

Zoom link https://pitp.zoom.us/j/97926664729?pwd=VzV2VmQ4eVlzcFdaZkNBNnpqRkMvUT09

A high specific abundance of millisecond radio pulsars has been observed in globular clusters (GCs), motivating theoretical studies of the formation and evolution of these sources through stellar evolution coupled to stellar dynamics. In this talk, I will first demonstrate how we model millisecond pulsars in GCs using realistic cluster simulations. I will show the importance of electron-capture supernovae for neutron star retention, and how millisecond pulsar formation is greatly enhanced through dynamical interaction processes. I will also present some latest results on isolated millisecond pulsars, which are especially intriguing given the fact that millisecond pulsars are descendants of binary star systems. I will demonstrate the potential formation channels of isolated millisecond pulsars, some of which may also link to the formation of magnetars and the newly discovered fast radio bursts in a GC.

---

Zoom link https://pitp.zoom.us/j/97622593487?pwd=SHNoM1o3T1JjWVROTkJoZ0NWYmdyQT09

To develop a quantum gravity theory, it is fundamental to move away from the gauge-fixing approach and instead employ a gauge-free analysis. There is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that the symmetries employed for gauge-fixing might carry charge. Consequently, setting the associated fields to zero is a physical constraint on the system, which should be avoided. In this talk, we will examine a partial fixing of the Fefferman-Graham (FG) gauge, referred to as the Weyl-Fefferman-Graham (WFG) gauge, which restores boundary Weyl covariance. We will show that the diffeomorphism mapping WFG to FG can be charged and discuss how this relates to holography.

---

Zoom link https://pitp.zoom.us/j/93359035909?pwd=aHo0TUFXekZaeCtrT2FzNDZKUW15Zz09

We investigate perturbations of the Schwarzschild geometry using a linearization of the Einstein vacuum equations within a Bondi-Sachs, or null cone, formalism. We develop a numerical method to calculate the quasinormal modes, and present results for the case ℓ= 2. The values obtained are different than those of a Schwarzschild black hole, and we interpret them as quasinormal modes of a Schwarzschild white hole.

---

Zoom link https://pitp.zoom.us/j/93648313308?pwd=akZMZXFKejIwdFphOVU0ZjFpeW13dz09

We use a result of Hawking and Gilkey to define a Euclidean path integral of gravity and matter which has the special property of being independent of the choice of basis in the space of fields. This property allows the path integral to describe also physical regimes that do not admit position bases. These physical regimes are pre-geometric in the sense that they do not admit a mathematical representation of the physical degrees of freedom in terms of fields that live on a spacetime. In regimes in which a spacetime representation does emerge, the geometric properties of the emergent spacetime, such as its dimension and volume, depend on the balance of fermionic pressure and bosonic and gravitational pull. That balance depends, at any given energy scale, on the number of bosonic and fermionic species that contribute, which in turn depends on their masses. This yields an explicit mechanism by which the effective spacetime dimension can depend on the energy scale.

---

Zoom link https://pitp.zoom.us/j/91471624951?pwd=RDBYTXc2MGs5bkFKUytYR0huOHYwdz09

If axion Dark Matter exists, then they can collapse to form self-gravitating exotic compact objects known as axion stars. As mergers of such compact objects can potentially yield detectable gravititational waves which are correlated with a burst of electromagnetic radiation, much effort have been expended to compute these signals. I will discuss both the technical and theoretical challenges of this endeavour, and demonstrate such decays. I will show that axion stars may not be stable to electromagnetic decay, raising the question on whether we should expect to see these objects in the first place.

--- 

Zoom link https://pitp.zoom.us/j/98298572209?pwd=WVFZUFJqQzZQdU8vcjhQRVpzVHZDdz09

What relations are there between the various ways of wrangling with quantum gravity? String theory is now much more than just a theory of strings -- branes and braneworlds abound. Some kind of effective theory for the familiar world needs to emerge. Are there ways that one could glimpse underlying structure from aspects of an effective theory? That happens for pions -- is there anything like that for gravity? Effective theories also involve higher derivatives, and those can summon up spirits (i.e. ghosts) from the vasty deep. Do asymptotic freedom or asymptotic safety give ways to exorcise them? And what might the effective theory tell us about the earliest times?