Project description
Tracing hidden matter through gravitational waves
For decades, scientists have searched in vain for dark matter (the invisible substance thought to make up most of the universe’s mass). Traditional particle detectors have come up empty, pushing researchers to look elsewhere. In this context, the ERC-funded De Tenebris project turns to one of the most extreme environments in the cosmos: the regions around black holes. As next-generation gravitational wave observatories come online, they may capture subtle distortions caused by dark matter interacting with black holes. By developing precise models of these signals, the project aims to reveal dark matter’s hidden fingerprints. In doing so, it could open a new window onto one of physics’ greatest mysteries.
Objective
A new era has come in the quest for dark matter, due to the absence of evidence for the most popular candidates, despite the enormous effort that has gone into searching for them. Here, I argue that the advent of precision gravitational wave astronomy offers a new extraordinary opportunity to discover DM in the strong gravity regime, and to uncover its particle properties. In a series of recent breakthrough studies, my team has shown that upcoming gravitational interferometers will be sensitive to the characteristic features in the gravitational waveforms induced by matter, and in particular dark matter, in the extreme environment around black holes, as long as our models are accurate enough.
The aim of the De Tenebris project is to formulate clear and accurate predictions of the dark matter phenomenology in strong gravity, to enable the discovery of dark matter with gravitational waves. To achieve this goal, we will build relativistic waveforms of binary black holes in presence of dark matter; determine the merger rate of binary black holes in presence of dark matter; assess the gravitational wave signature of dark matter self-annihilation and self-interaction.
Discovering dark matter in the strong gravity limit would be an extraordinary achievement per se, as it would validate a central prediction of Standard Cosmology. But my dream is to identify its nature by studying its signature on the observed gravitational waveforms, and find the path to extending the Standard Model of particle physics.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1012WX Amsterdam
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.