Publication
Title
Tests of general relativity with binary black holes from the second LIGO-Virgo gravitational-wave transient catalog
Author
Institution/Organisation
LIGO Sci Collaboration
Virgo Collaboration
Abstract
Gravitational waves enable tests of general relativity in the highly dynamical and strong-field regime. Using events detected by LIGO-Virgo up to 1 October 2019, we evaluate the consistency of the data with predictions from the theory. We first establish that residuals from the best-fit waveform are consistent with detector noise, and that the low- and high-frequency parts of the signals are in agreement. We then consider parametrized modifications to the waveform by varying post-Newtonian and phenomenological coefficients, improving past constraints by factors of similar to 2; we also find consistency with Kerr black holes when we specifically target signatures of the spin-induced quadrupole moment. Looking for gravitational-wave dispersion, we tighten constraints on Lorentz-violating coefficients by a factor of similar to 2.6 and bound the mass of the graviton to m(g) <= 1.76 x 10(-23) eV/c(2) with 90% credibility. We also analyze the properties of the merger remnants by measuring ringdown frequencies and damping times, constraining fractional deviations away from the Kerr frequency to delta(f) over cap (220) = 0.03(-0.35)(+0.38) for the fundamental quadrupolar mode, and delta(f) over cap (221) = 0.04(-0.32)(+0.27) for the first overtone; additionally, we find no evidence for postmerger echoes. Finally, we determine that our data are consistent with tensorial polarizations through a template-independent method. When possible, we assess the validity of general relativity based on collections of events analyzed jointly. We find no evidence for new physics beyond general relativity, for black hole mimickers, or for any unaccounted systematics.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Physical review D / American Physical Society. - Ridge, N.Y., 2016, currens
Publication
Ridge, N.Y. : American Physical Society , 2021
ISSN
2470-0029
DOI
10.1103/PHYSREVD.103.122002
Volume/pages
103 :12 (2021) , 43 p.
Article Reference
122002
ISI
000661823100001
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 30.07.2021
Last edited 04.03.2025
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