Periodic Reporting for period 1 - LHCtoLISA (Precision Gravity: From the LHC to LISA)
Reporting period: 2019-06-01 to 2020-11-30
The observation of gravitational waves by LIGO/VIRGO started a new era for astronomy. The discovery potential of this nascent field largely hinges upon the ability to make precise theoretical predictions. Reliable templates are critical for successful data analysis and interpretation of the signals. The goal of LHCtoLISA project is to push forward the frontiers of analytic understanding in gravitational dynamics through the Effective Field Theory framework. The novel formalism, that the PI and collaborators have developed, has been instrumental for the construction of the state-of-the-art template bank. The high-accuracy calculations the project will undertake will have enormous implications, from probing strongly interacting matter to enabling the discovery of exotic compact objects and putative ultralight particles in nature.
1) We have used the effective field theory (EFT) approach to compute the conservative dynamics for binary systems to next-to-next-to-next-to-next-to leading order (NNNNLO) in the Post-Newtonian regime (4PN order). This is the state-of-the-art in PN theory.
2) We have demonstrated the ability of the EFT framework to tackle also the dynamics of large scale structures, reaching the state-of-the-art at third order in density fluctuations.
3) We have developed a dictionary to relate scattering data to observables for bound orbits, opening the path to using powerful tools from scattering amplitudes to study the binary problem.
4) We have developed an EFT formalism to tackle the scattering problem in the Post-Minkowskian (PM) regime.
5) We have used this novel PM EFT to reach the state-of-the-art at third PM order.
6) We have incorporated quadrupolar and octupolar tidal effects to NLO using the PM EFT, yielding the present state-of-the-art.
7) We have also developed the concept of 'gravitational collider physics' -- using gravitational wave precision data to constrain the nature of compact objects.
2) We have demonstrated the ability of the EFT framework to tackle also the dynamics of large scale structures, reaching the state-of-the-art at third order in density fluctuations.
3) We have developed a dictionary to relate scattering data to observables for bound orbits, opening the path to using powerful tools from scattering amplitudes to study the binary problem.
4) We have developed an EFT formalism to tackle the scattering problem in the Post-Minkowskian (PM) regime.
5) We have used this novel PM EFT to reach the state-of-the-art at third PM order.
6) We have incorporated quadrupolar and octupolar tidal effects to NLO using the PM EFT, yielding the present state-of-the-art.
7) We have also developed the concept of 'gravitational collider physics' -- using gravitational wave precision data to constrain the nature of compact objects.
The EFT framework has demonstrated its ability to push forward our understanding of binary dynamics, providing the present state-of-the-art both in the Post-Newtonian and Post-Minkowskian regime. We are now progressing smoothly towards higher orders.