Scalar fields around black hole binaries in LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA
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arXiv
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| Auteurs principaux: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Publié: |
2025
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| _version_ | 1866914563530686464 |
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| author | Roy, Soumen Vicente, Rodrigo Aurrekoetxea, Josu C. Clough, Katy Ferreira, Pedro G. |
| author_facet | Roy, Soumen Vicente, Rodrigo Aurrekoetxea, Josu C. Clough, Katy Ferreira, Pedro G. |
| contents | 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. Detecting such effects would provide a novel probe of fundamental physics and dark matter. Here we develop a semi-analytic waveform model for binaries in scalar environments, validate it against numerical relativity simulations, and apply it in a Bayesian analysis of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA catalog. We obtain physically meaningful upper limits on scalar densities around most compact binaries. For GW190728 and GW190814, vacuum lies outside the $95\%$ credible region. When including superradiance priors, GW190728 shows tentative evidence for a scalar environment with a Bayes factor of $\ln \mathrm{B}^{\rm env}_{\rm vac} \approx 3.5$, consistent with a light scalar of mass $\sim10^{-12}\,\mathrm{eV}$. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_17967 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Scalar fields around black hole binaries in LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Roy, Soumen Vicente, Rodrigo Aurrekoetxea, Josu C. Clough, Katy Ferreira, Pedro G. General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena High Energy Physics - Phenomenology 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. Detecting such effects would provide a novel probe of fundamental physics and dark matter. Here we develop a semi-analytic waveform model for binaries in scalar environments, validate it against numerical relativity simulations, and apply it in a Bayesian analysis of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA catalog. We obtain physically meaningful upper limits on scalar densities around most compact binaries. For GW190728 and GW190814, vacuum lies outside the $95\%$ credible region. When including superradiance priors, GW190728 shows tentative evidence for a scalar environment with a Bayes factor of $\ln \mathrm{B}^{\rm env}_{\rm vac} \approx 3.5$, consistent with a light scalar of mass $\sim10^{-12}\,\mathrm{eV}$. |
| title | Scalar fields around black hole binaries in LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA |
| topic | General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena High Energy Physics - Phenomenology |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.17967 |