Project description
Predicting black hole binary electromagnetic and gravitational wave signatures
The recent discovery of binary neutron star mergers using both gravitational wave (GW) and electromagnetic (EM) observations has heralded a new era of multi-messenger astrophysics. In this context, the ERC-funded Bright BHBs project aims to predict the EM and GW signatures throughout the evolution of black hole binaries with circumbinary discs. Using hydrodynamical and magnetohydrodynamic simulations, it will discern the signatures of supermassive black hole binaries among active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Additionally, the project will create self-consistent time-dependent models of AGN discs to identify the signatures of stellar-mass black hole mergers. These tools will not only provide insights into the processes of cosmic events but also be an asset to the European Space Agency’s upcoming Laser Interferometer Space Antenna mission.
Objective
Combining electromagnetic (EM) and gravitational-wave (GW) observations of the same object opens windows to new science, from astronomy and astrophysics to fundamental physics and cosmology. The era of such multi-messenger astrophysics began with the recent GW+EM discovery of two binary neutron-star mergers. This proposal will enable novel multi-messenger science with black hole binaries (BHBs) across all masses.
Supermassive and stellar-mass BHBs in galactic nuclei are both expected to be surrounded by circumbinary gas disks. The binary's orbit and the hydrodynamics of its disk are coupled and their evolution must be followed jointly. Our goal is to understand this coupled long-term evolution of BHB+disk systems, along with their corresponding EM and GW signatures.
This is an exceptionally well-posed physics problem. We will solve it through hydrodynamical and MHD simulations of unprecedented size, spatial resolution and duration, incorporating radiation transport, realistic thermodynamics, gravitational radiation and disk self-gravity for the first time. We will predict the EM and GW signatures of BHBs with circumbinary disks throughout their evolution, and apply these to observations in three work packages (WPs).
WP1 will perform 2D hydro and 3D radiation-MHD simulations to understand the orbital evolution and the EM and GW signatures of BHBs with circumbinary disks.
WP2 will apply these results to robustly identify the first SMBH binaries among AGNs in LSST and other time-domain surveys, and to interpret pulsar-timing array observations of the GW background.
WP3 will develop the first self-consistent time-dependent models of AGN disks coupled with the embedded populations of stellar-mass objects, and derive the EM and GW signatures of stellar-mass BH mergers in these disks.
The tools we build will also allow ESA's LISA mission to realize its full science potential, by enabling the astrophysical interpretation of any deviations from vacuum GR waveforms.
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.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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)
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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
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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.
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Call for proposal
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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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3400 Klosterneuburg
Austria
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