scholarly journals Recent LIGO-Virgo discoveries

2021 ◽  
pp. 2130010
Author(s):  
Maximiliano Isi
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
General Relativity ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Gravitational Wave ◽  
Compact Objects ◽  
Tests Of General Relativity ◽  
Mass Gap ◽  
Cosmic History

The LIGO and Virgo gravitational-wave detectors carried out the first half of their third observing run from April through October 2019. During this period, they detected 39 new signals from the coalescence of black holes or neutron stars, more than quadrupling the total number of detected events. These detections included some unprecedented sources, like a pair of black holes with unequal masses (GW190412), a massive pair of neutron stars (GW190425), a black hole potentially in the supernova pair-instability mass gap (GW190521), and either the lightest black hole or the heaviest neutron star known to date (GW190814). Collectively, the full set of signals provided astrophysically valuable information about the distributions of compact objects and their evolution throughout cosmic history. It also enabled more constraining and diverse tests of general relativity, including new probes of the fundamental nature of black holes. This review summarizes the highlights of these results and their implications.

Black Hole, Neutron Star and Numerical Relativity

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 7-13
Author(s):  
Jinho KIM
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
General Relativity ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Numerical Method ◽  
High Velocity ◽  
Compact Objects ◽  
Compact Stars ◽  
Speed Of Light

Compact stars, e.g., black holes and neutron stars, are the most energetic objects in astrophysics. These objects are accompanied by extremely strong gravity and a high velocity, which approaches the speed of light. Therefore, compact objects should be dealt with in Einstein’s relativity. This article will briefly introduce a numerical method that will allow us to obtain general solutions in general relativity. Several applications using numerical relativistic simulations will also be presented.

The stellar graveyard

2019 ◽  
pp. 177-206
Author(s):  
Nils Andersson
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
General Relativity ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Gravitational Wave ◽  
Stellar Evolution ◽  
White Dwarfs ◽  
Supermassive Black Holes ◽  
Compact Objects ◽  
Fermi Gases ◽  
The 1950S

This chapter introduces the different classes of compact objects—white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes—that are relevant for gravitational-wave astronomy. The ideas are placed in the context of developing an understanding of the likely endpoint(s) of stellar evolution. Key ideas like Fermi gases and the Chandrasekhar mass are discussed, as is the emergence of general relativity as a cornerstone of astrophysics in the 1950s. Issues associated with different formation channels for, in particular, black holes are considered. The chapter ends with a discussion of the supermassive black holes that are found at the centre of galaxies.

scholarly journals Quantum Black Holes in the Sky

Universe ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jahed Abedi ◽  
Niayesh Afshordi ◽  
Naritaka Oshita ◽  
Qingwen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
General Relativity ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Gravitational Wave ◽  
Gravitational Waves ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Compact Objects ◽  
Theoretical Underpinning ◽  
The Past ◽  
Einstein’S General Relativity

Black Holes are possibly the most enigmatic objects in our universe. From their detection in gravitational waves upon their mergers, to their snapshot eating at the centres of galaxies, black hole astrophysics has undergone an observational renaissance in the past four years. Nevertheless, they remain active playgrounds for strong gravity and quantum effects, where novel aspects of the elusive theory of quantum gravity may be hard at work. In this review article, we provide an overview of the strong motivations for why “Quantum Black Holes” may be radically different from their classical counterparts in Einstein’s General Relativity. We then discuss the observational signatures of quantum black holes, focusing on gravitational wave echoes as smoking guns for quantum horizons (or exotic compact objects), which have led to significant recent excitement and activity. We review the theoretical underpinning of gravitational wave echoes and critically examine the seemingly contradictory observational claims regarding their (non-)existence. Finally, we discuss the future theoretical and observational landscape for unraveling the “Quantum Black Holes in the Sky”.

IMPULSIVE LIGHT-LIKE SIGNALS

2002 ◽  
Vol 17 (20) ◽  
pp. 2746-2746
Author(s):  
C. BARRABÈS ◽  
P. A. HOGAN
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Gravitational Wave ◽  
Gravitational Radiation ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Compact Objects ◽  
Speed Of Light ◽  
Gravitational Fields ◽  
Multipole Source

A general characterisation of an impulsive light–like signal was given1,2. The signal may consist of a shell of null matter and/or an impulsive gravitational wave. Both parts of the signal can be unambiguously identified3,4. The signals can be used to model bursts of gravitational radiation and light– like matter accompanying cataclysmic events such as supernovae and neutron star collisions. Also in high speed collisions of compact objects such as black–holes or neutron stars the gravitational fields of these objects resemble those of impulsive light–like signals when the objects are boosted to the speed of light. Several examples of impulsive light–like signals were presented, in particular those produced by recoil effects5 and by the Aichelburg–Sexl boost of an isolated gravitating multipole source6. The detection of these signals was also discussed7.

scholarly journals Pulsar Identification of Background Spectra of LIGO Data

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Exact Solution ◽  
General Relativity ◽  
Time Delay ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Gravitational Wave ◽  
Gravitational Waves ◽  
Compact Objects ◽  
Gravitational Redshift ◽  
Wave Spectra

By choosing the metric (called physical metric) in general relativity as the exact solution to the Einstein equation that fits the time delay data, one can determine the size and gravitational redshift on the surface of compact objects (neutron stars and black holes). The author shows that the physical metric is invariant by rotation. As a result, the frequencies of gravitational waves from pulsars are represented as n * f / for pulsar frequency f and harmonics n. Based on this result, the author has identified potential pulsar candidates with gravitational wave spectra. This result will be critical in the study of gravitational redshift of compact objects.

scholarly journals High-Mass X-ray Binaries: progenitors of double compact objects

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (S346) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Edward P. J. van den Heuvel
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Compact Objects ◽  
High Mass ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Future Evolution ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Orbital Periods ◽  
X Ray Binaries

AbstractA summary is given of the present state of our knowledge of High-Mass X-ray Binaries (HMXBs), their formation and expected future evolution. Among the HMXB-systems that contain neutron stars, only those that have orbital periods upwards of one year will survive the Common-Envelope (CE) evolution that follows the HMXB phase. These systems may produce close double neutron stars with eccentric orbits. The HMXBs that contain black holes do not necessarily evolve into a CE phase. Systems with relatively short orbital periods will evolve by stable Roche-lobe overflow to short-period Wolf-Rayet (WR) X-ray binaries containing a black hole. Two other ways for the formation of WR X-ray binaries with black holes are identified: CE-evolution of wide HMXBs and homogeneous evolution of very close systems. In all three cases, the final product of the WR X-ray binary will be a double black hole or a black hole neutron star binary.

scholarly journals Black hole and neutron star mergers in galactic nuclei: the role of triples

2019 ◽  
Vol 488 (2) ◽  
pp. 2825-2835 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giacomo Fragione ◽  
Nathan W C Leigh ◽  
Rosalba Perna
Keyword(s):  
Black Holes ◽  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Massive Stars ◽  
Star Clusters ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Compact Objects ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Binary Case

ABSTRACT Nuclear star clusters that surround supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in galactic nuclei are thought to contain large numbers of black holes (BHs) and neutron stars (NSs), a fraction of which form binaries and could merge by Kozai–Lidov oscillations (KL). Triple compact objects are likely to be present, given what is known about the multiplicity of massive stars, whose life ends either as an NS or a BH. In this paper, we present a new possible scenario for merging BHs and NSs in galactic nuclei. We study the evolution of a triple black hole (BH) or neutron star (NS) system orbiting an SMBH in a galactic nucleus by means of direct high-precision N-body simulations, including post-Newtonian terms. We find that the four-body dynamical interactions can increase the KL angle window for mergers compared to the binary case and make BH and NS binaries merge on shorter time-scales. We show that the merger fraction can be up to ∼5–8 times higher for triples than for binaries. Therefore, even if the triple fraction is only ∼10–$20\rm{\,per\,cent}$ of the binary fraction, they could contribute to the merger events observed by LIGO/VIRGO in comparable numbers.

scholarly journals Constraint on Hybrid Stars with Gravitational Wave Events

Universe ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
Kilar Zhang ◽  
Feng-Li Lin
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Dark Matter ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Gravitational Wave ◽  
Compact Object ◽  
Compact Objects ◽  
Compact Stars ◽  
Hybrid Star ◽  
Hybrid Stars

Motivated by the recent discoveries of compact objects from LIGO/Virgo observations, we study the possibility of identifying some of these objects as compact stars made of dark matter called dark stars, or the mix of dark and nuclear matters called hybrid stars. In particular, in GW190814, a new compact object with 2.6 M⊙ is reported. This could be the lightest black hole, the heaviest neutron star, and a dark or hybrid star. In this work, we extend the discussion on the interpretations of the recent LIGO/Virgo events as hybrid stars made of various self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) in the isotropic limit. We pay particular attention to the saddle instability of the hybrid stars which will constrain the possible SIDM models.

General relativity and neutron stars

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (02n03) ◽  
pp. 1641017
Author(s):  
D. G. Yakovlev
Keyword(s):  
General Relativity ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Neutron Stars ◽  
Gravitational Wave ◽  
Mass Measurements ◽  
Einstein Theory ◽  
Superdense Matter ◽  
Compact Binaries ◽  
Star Models ◽  
Neutron Star Mass

General Relativity affects all major aspects of neutron star structure and evolution including radiation from the surface, neutron star models, evolution in compact binaries. It is widely used for neutron star mass measurements and for studying properties of superdense matter in neutron stars. Observations of neutron stars help testing General Relativity and planning gravitational wave experiments. No deviations from Einstein Theory of Gravity have been detected so far from observations of neutron stars.

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