Recent gravitational wave observations allow us to probe gravity in the strong and dynamical field regime. In this paper, we focus on testing Einstein-dilaton Gauss-Bonnet gravity which is motivated by string theory. In particular, we use two new neutron star black hole binaries (GW200105 and GW200115). We also consider GW190814 which is consistent with both a binary black hole and a neutron star black hole binary. Adopting the leading post-Newtonian correction and carrying out a Bayesian Markov-chain Monte Carlo analyses, we derive the 90\% credible upper bound on the coupling constant of the theory as $\sqrt{α_{GB}} \lesssim 1.33\,\rm km$, whose consistency is checked with an independent Fisher analysis. This bound is stronger than the bound obtained in previous literature by combining selected binary black hole events in GWTC-1 and GWTC-2 catalogs. We also derive a combined bound of $\sqrt{α_{GB}} \lesssim 1.18\,\rm km$ by stacking GW200105, GW200115, GW190814, and selected binary black hole events. In order to check the validity of the effect of higher post-Newtonian terms, we derive corrections to the waveform phase up to second post Newtonian order by mapping results in scalar-tensor theories to Einstein-dilaton Gauss-Bonnet gravity. We find that such higher-order terms improve the bounds by $14.5\%$ for GW200105 and $6.9\%$ for GW200115 respectively.
We investigate axial quasi-normal modes of realistic neutron stars in Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet-dilaton gravity. We consider 8 realistic equations of state containing nuclear, hyperonic, and hybrid matter. We focus on the fundamental curvature mode and compare the results with those of pure Einstein theory. We observe that the frequency of the modes is increased by the presence of the Gauss-Bonnet-dilaton, while the impact on the damping time is typically smaller. Interestingly, we obtain that universal relations valid in pure Einstein theory still hold for Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet-dilaton gravity, a…
Einstein-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet gravity is a theoretically well-motivated alternative theory of gravity emerging as a low-energy 4-dimensional model from heterotic string theory. Its rotating black hole solutions are known numerically and can have macroscopic deviations from the Kerr black holes of Einstein's gravity. Einstein-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet gravity can thus be tested with observations of astrophysical black holes. In the present paper, we simulate observations of the reflection spectrum of thin accretion disks with present and future X-ray facilities to understand whether X-ray reflection…
The innermost stable circular orbits (ISCOs) around rapidly rotating neutron stars are studied in dilatonic Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theory. Universal relations for properly scaled ISCO properties are extended from General Relativity to dilatonic Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theory and additional relations are obtained.
Einstein-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet gravity is a well-motivated alternative theory of gravity that emerges naturally from string theory. While black hole solutions have been known in this theory in numerical form for a while, an approximate analytical metric was obtained recently by some of us, which allows for faster and more detailed analysis. Here we test the accuracy of the analytical metric in the context of X-ray reflection spectroscopy. We analyze innermost stable circular orbits (ISCO) and relativistically broadened iron lines and find that both the ISCO and iron lines are determined suffici…
A present challenge in testing general relativity (GR) with binary black hole gravitational wave detections is the inability to perform model-dependent tests due to the lack of merger waveforms in beyond-GR theories. In this study, we produce the first numerical relativity binary black hole gravitational waveform in Einstein dilaton Gauss-Bonnet (EDGB) gravity, a higher-curvature theory of gravity with motivations in string theory. We evolve a binary black hole system in order-reduced EDGB gravity, with parameters consistent with GW150914. We focus on the merger portion of the waveform, due to…
We study the phase space of the spherically symmetric solutions of Einstein-Maxwell-Gauss-Bonnet system nonminimally coupled to a scalar field and prove the existence of solutions with unusual asymptotics in addition to asymptotically flat ones. We also find new dyonic solutions of dilatonic Einstein-Maxwell theory.
Quasi-Periodic Oscillations (QPOs) observed in the X-ray flux emitted by accreting black holes, are associated to phenomena occurring near the horizon. Future very large area X-ray instruments will be able to measure QPO frequencies with very high precision, thus probing this strong-field region. By using the relativistic precession model, we show the way in which QPO frequencies could be used to test general relativity against those alternative theories of gravity which predict deviations from the classical theory in the strong-field regime. We consider one of the best motivated strong-curvat…
We study the phase space of the spherically symmetric solutions of Einstein Gauss-Bonnet system nonminimally coupled to a scalar field and show that in four dimensions the only regular black hole solutions are asymptotically flat
We study the problem of boundary terms and boundary conditions for Chern-Simons gravity in five dimensions. We show that under reasonable boundary conditions one finds an effective field theory at the four-dimensional boundary described by dilaton gravity with a Gauss-Bonnet term. The coupling of matter is also discussed.
We study a hairy black hole solution in the dilatonic Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theory of gravitation, in which the Gauss-Bonnet term is non-minimally coupled to the dilaton field. Hairy black holes with spherical symmetry seem to be easily constructed with a positive Gauss-Bonnet coefficient $α$ within the coupling function, $f(ϕ) = αe^{γϕ}$, in an asymptotically flat spacetime, i.e., no-hair theorem seems to be easily evaded in this theory. Therefore, it is natural to ask whether this construction can be expanded into the case with the negative coefficient $α$. In this paper, we present numerica…
We consider rapidly rotating black holes and neutron stars in dilatonic Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet (EGBd) theory and determine their quadrupole moments, which receive a contribution from the dilaton. The quadrupole moment of EGBd black holes can be considerably larger than the Kerr value. For neutron stars, the universality property of the $\hat I$-$\hat Q$ relation between the scaled moment of inertia and the scaled quadrupole moment appears to extend to EGBd theory.
We investigate Euclidean wormholes in Gauss-Bonnet-dilaton gravity to explain the creation of the universe from nothing. We considered two types of dilaton couplings (i.e., the string-inspired model and the Gaussian model) and we obtained qualitatively similar results. There can exist Euclidean wormholes that explain the possible origin of our universe, where the dilaton field is located over the barrier of dilaton potential. This solution can exist even if dilaton potential does not satisfy slow-roll conditions. In addition, the probability is higher than that of the Hawking-Moss instanton wi…
We study quasinormal modes of static Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet-dilaton black holes. Both axial and polar perturbations are considered and studied from $l=0$ to $l=3$. We emphasize the difference in the spectrum between the Schwarzschild solutions and dilatonic black holes. At large Gauss-Bonnet coupling constant a small secondary branch of black holes is present, when the dilaton coupling is sufficiently strong. The modes of the primary branch can differ from the Schwarzschild modes up to $10\%$. The secondary branch is unstable and possesses long-lived modes. We address the possible effects of th…
Gauss-Bonnet-dilatonic coupling in four dimension plays an important role to explain late time cosmic evolution. However, this term is an outcome of low energy string effective action and thus ought to be important in the early universe too. Unfortunately, phase-space formulation of such a theory does not exist in the literature due to branching. We therefore consider a modified theory of gravity, which contains a nonminimally coupled scalar-tensor sector in addition to higher order scalar curvature invariant term with Gauss-Bonnet-dilatonic coupling. Such an action unifies early inflation wit…
We investigate the upper limit of the gravitational radiation released upon the collision of two dilatonic black holes by analyzing the Gauss-Bonnet term. Dilatonic black holes have a dilaton hair coupled with this term. Using the laws of thermodynamics, the upper limit of the radiation is obtained, which reflected the effects of the dilaton hair. The amount of radiation released is greater than that emitted by a Schwarzschild black hole due to the contribution from the dilaton hair. In the collision, most of the dilaton hair can be released through radiation, where the energy radiated by the …
In [P. Kanti, B. Kleihaus, J. Kunz, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 271101 (2011)] it was shown that the four-dimensional Einstein-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet theory allows for wormholes without introducing any exotic matter. The numerical solution for the wormhole was obtained there and it was claimed that this solution is gravitationally stable against radial perturbations, what, by now, would mean the only known theoretical possibility for existence of an apparently stable, four-dimensional and asymptotically flat wormhole without exotic matter. Here, more detailed analysis of perturbations shows that the K…
In this paper we consider the holographic DC and Hall conductivity in Einstein-Maxwell-Dilaton in Gauss-Bonnet gravity with momentum dissipation. We analytically derived the DC conductivity and Hall conductivity from the black horizon data, and found that the conductivities are independent on the Gauss-Bonnet coupling. We also used the entropy function formalism to get the conductivities in terms of the charge of the black hole, even without knowing the explicit black hole solutions.
Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity coupled to a dynamical dilaton is examined from the viewpoint of Einstein's equivalence principle. We point out that the usual frame change that applies to the action without curvature correction does not cure the problem of nonminimal couplings by the dynamical nature of a dilaton field. Thus a modification of the Einstein frame is required. It is proposed that the kinetic term of a dilaton should be brought to a canonical form, which completely fixes the additional terms associated with the frame transformation.
We present the cosmological analysis of the Gauss-Bonnet quasi-dilaton massive gravity theory. This offers a gravitational theory with a non-zero graviton mass. We calculate the complete set of background equations of motion. Also, we obtain the self-accelerating background solutions and we present the constraints on parameters to indicate the correct sign of parameters. In addition, we analyse tensor perturbations and calculate the mass of graviton and find the dispersion relation of gravitational waves for two cases. Finally, we investigate the propagation of gravitational perturbation in th…
We construct traversable wormholes in dilatonic Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theory in four spacetime dimensions, without needing any form of exotic matter. We determine their domain of existence, and show that these wormholes satisfy a generalised Smarr relation. We demonstrate linear stability with respect to radial perturbations for a subset of these wormholes.
We calculate the shear viscosity of field theories with gravity duals of Gauss-Bonnet gravity with a non-trivial dilaton using AdS/CFT. We find that the dilaton filed has a non-trivial contribution to the ratio of shear viscosity over entropy density and after imposing causal constraint for the boundary field theory, the new lower bound $4/25π$, obtained from pure Gauss-Bonnet gravity, may have a small violation.
We investigate a nucleation of a Euclidean wormhole and its analytic continuation to Lorentzian signatures in Gauss-Bonnet-dilaton gravity, where this model can be embedded by the type-II superstring theory. We show that there exists a Euclidean wormhole solution in this model by choosing a suitable shape of the dilaton potential. After the analytic continuation, this explains a quantum creation of a time-like traversable wormhole. Finally, we discuss relations to the information loss problem and the current literature.
We construct an analytical approximation for the numerical black hole metric of P. Kanti, et. al. [PRD54, 5049 (1996)] in the four-dimensional Einstein-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet (EdGB) theory. The continued fraction expansion in terms of a compactified radial coordinate, used here, converges slowly when the dilaton coupling approaches its extremal values, but for a black hole far from the extremal state, the analytical formula has a maximal relative error of a fraction of one percent already within the third order of the continued fraction expansion. The suggested analytical representation of the n…
We construct generalizations of the Kerr black holes by including higher curvature corrections in the form of the Gauss-Bonnet density coupled to the dilaton. We show that the domain of existence of these Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet-dilaton (EBGd) black holes is bounded by the Kerr black holes, the critical EGBd black holes, and the singular extremal EGBd solutions. The angular momentum of the EGBd black holes can exceed the Kerr bound. The EGBd black holes satisfy a generalised Smarr relation. We also compare their innermost stable circular orbits with those of the Kerr black holes and show the exi…
We construct sequences of rapidly rotating neutron stars in dilatonic Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theory, employing two equations of state for the nuclear matter. We analyze the dependence of the physical properties of these neutron stars on the Gauss-Bonnet coupling strength. For a given equation of state we determine the physically relevant domain of rapidly rotating neutron stars, which is delimited by the set of neutron stars rotating at the Kepler limit, the set of neutron stars along the secular instability line, and the set of static neutron stars. As compared to Einstein gravity, the presenc…
Gravitational waves from extreme gravity events such as the coalescence of two black holes in a binary system fill our observable universe, bearing with them the underlying theory of gravity driving their process. One compelling alternative theory of gravity -- known as Einstein-dilaton Gauss-Bonnet gravity motivated by string theory -- describes the presence of an additional dilaton scalar field coupled directly to higher orders of the curvature, effectively describing a "fifth force" interaction and the emission of scalar dipole radiation between two scalarized black holes. Most previous stu…
Generalizations of the Schwarzschild and Kerr black holes are discussed in an astrophysically viable generalized theory of gravity, which includes higher curvature corrections in the form of the Gauss-Bonnet term, coupled to a dilaton. The angular momentum of these black holes can slightly exceed the Kerr bound. The location and the orbital frequency of particles in their innermost stable circular orbits can deviate significantly from the respective Kerr values. Study of the quasinormal modes of the static black holes gives strong evidence that they are mode stable against polar and axial pert…
We study the thermodynamic properties of a black hole and the Hawking-Page phase transition in the asymptotically anti--de Sitter spacetime in the dilatonic Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theory of gravitation. We show how the higher-order curvature terms can influence both the thermodynamic properties and the phase transition. We evaluate both heat capacity and free energy difference to determine the local and global thermodynamic stabilities, respectively. We find that the phase transition occurs from the thermal anti--de Sitter to a small spherical black hole geometry and occurs to a hyperbolic blac…
We find that AdS spacetime with a non-trivial linear dilaton field is an exact solution in the effective action of string theory, which is described by gravity with the Gauss-Bonnet curvature terms coupled to a dilaton field in the string frame. The AdS radius is determined by the spacetime dimensions and the coupling constants of curvature corrections. We also construct the asymptotically AdS black hole solutions with a linear dilaton field numerically. We discuss the thermodynamical properties of those solutions. Extending the model to the case with the even-order higher Lovelock curvature t…
We study asymptotically AdS topological black hole solutions with k=0 (plane symmetric) in the Einstein gravity with Gauss-Bonnet term, the dilaton and a "cosmological constant" in various dimensions. We derive the field equations for suitable ansatz for general D dimensions. We determine the parameter regions including dilaton couplings where such solutions exist and construct black hole solutions of various masses numerically in D=4,5,6 and 10 dimensional spacetime with (D-2)-dimensional hypersurface of zero curvature.
We present some wormhole configurations using analytic and numerical solutions of the Euclidean field equations considering Einstein Gauss Bonnet dilaton coupled interaction in the Robertson Walker metric. Analytic solutions invoking slow-roll type approximation for some potentials yield identical wormholes in the early era. Eventually, in a later era, the universe enters to an expanding era much faster than usual inflation accompanied by oscillations with analytic continuation τ=it. The numerical solutions of wormholes in terms of the scale factor a(τ) are almost identical for some standard p…
We study spherically symmetric, asymptotically flat black hole solutions in the low-energy effective heterotic string theory, which is the Einstein gravity with Gauss-Bonnet term and the dilaton, in various dimensions. We derive the field equations for suitable ansatz for general D dimensions and construct black hole solutions of various masses numerically in D=4,5,6 and 10 dimensional spacetime with (D-2)-dimensional hypersurface with positive constant curvature. A detailed comparison with the non-dilatonic solutions is made. We also examine the thermodynamic properties of the solutions. It i…
We develop a theoretical framework to study slowly rotating compact stars in a rather general class of alternative theories of gravity, with the ultimate goal of investigating constraints on alternative theories from electromagnetic and gravitational-wave observations of compact stars. Our Lagrangian includes as special cases scalar-tensor theories (and indirectly f(R) theories) as well as models with a scalar field coupled to quadratic curvature invariants. As a first application of the formalism, we discuss (for the first time in the literature) compact stars in Einstein-Dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet…
Classical (quasinormal) and quantum (Hawking) radiations are investigated for test fields in the background of a four dimensional, spherically symmetric and asymptotically flat black hole in the Einstein-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet (EdGB) theory. The geometry of the EdGB black hole deviates from the Schwarzschild geometry only slightly. Therefore, here we observe that the quasinormal spectrum also deviates from its Schwarzschild limit at most moderately, allowing for a $9\%$ decrease in the damping rate and up to a $6\%$ decrease in the real oscillation frequency. However, the intensity of Hawking ra…
We study cosmological solutions in the low-energy effective heterotic string theory, which is the Einstein gravity with Gauss-Bonnet term and the dilaton. We show that the field equations are cast into an autonomous system for flat internal and external spaces, and derive all the fixed points in the system. We also examine the time evolution of the solutions and whether the solutions can give (transient) accelerated expansion of our four-dimensional space in the Einstein frame.
Gravitational spectroscopy - the measurement of the quasi-normal modes of a black hole from the ringdown signal of a binary black hole coalescence - is one of the most promising tools to test gravity in the strong-field, large-curvature regime, but without the knowledge of the black hole quasi-normal modes in specific cases of modified gravity theories, only null tests of general relativity are possible. More specifically, we need to know the modes of rotating black holes, because typical compact binary mergers lead to black holes with large spins. In this article we compute, for the first tim…
We present a few Euclidean wormhole configurations using both the analytic and numerical solutions of the field equations considering Einstein Gauss-Bonnet dilaton interaction in 4-dimensional Robertson Walker Euclidean background. In one analytic solution we present transition from a wormhole to an exponential expansion with Lorentzian time $t$ using $τ=it$ after passing through an era of oscillating Euclidean wormhole. The numerical solutions of the scale factor $a(τ)$ show multiple local maxima and minima about a global minimum for inverse power law potentials, while for exponential potenti…
We discuss the properties of Lorentzian wormholes in dilatonic Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theory in four spacetime dimensions. These wormholes do not need any form of exotic matter for their existence. A subset of these wormholes is shown to be linearly stable with respect to radial perturbations. We perform a comprehensive study of their domain of existence, and derive a generalised Smarr relation for these wormholes. We also investigate their geodesics determining all possible particle trajectories, and perform a study of the acceleration and tidal forces that a traveler crossing the wormhole wou…
We report on a numerical investigation of the stability of scalarized black holes in Einstein dilaton Gauss-Bonnet (EdGB) gravity in the full dynamical theory, though restricted to spherical symmetry. We find evidence that for sufficiently small curvature-couplings the resulting scalarized black hole solutions are nonlinearly stable. For such small couplings, we show that an elliptic region forms inside these EdGB black hole spacetimes (prior to any curvature singularity), and give evidence that this region remains censored from asymptotic view. However, for coupling values "superextremal" rel…
The paper discusses a collapse of a self-interacting electrically charged scalar field in the decoupling limit of the dilatonic Gauss-Bonnet gravity. The emerging spacetimes were either non-singular or singular and containing black holes of a Schwarzschild type. A size of the region, in which the gravitational dynamics was observed was controlled by an absolute value of the Gauss-Bonnet coupling. Dependencies of characteristics of the forming black holes on the dilatonic and Gauss-Bonnet parameters turned out to be similar in the case of black hole masses and radii as well as their time of for…
Among various strong-curvature extensions to General Relativity, Einstein-Dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet gravity stands out as the only nontrivial theory containing quadratic curvature corrections while being free from the Ostrogradsky instability to any order in the coupling parameter. We derive an approximate stationary and axisymmetric black-hole solution of this gravitational theory in closed form, which is quadratic in the black-hole spin angular momentum and of seventh order in the coupling parameter of the theory. This extends previous work that obtained the corrections to the metric only at the …
It is generally accepted that Einstein's theory will get some as yet unknown corrections, possibly large in the strong field regime. An ideal place to look for these modifications is around the vicinities of compact objects such as black holes. Our case study here are Dilatonic Black Holes, which arise in the framework of Gauss-Bonnet couplings and one-loop corrected four-dimensional effective theory of heterotic superstrings at low energies. These are interesting objects as a prototype for alternative, yet well-behaved gravity theories: they evade the "no-hair" theorem of General Relativity b…
We show that four-dimensional Einstein-Maxwell-Dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet gravity admits asymptotically flat black hole solutions with a degenerate event horizon of the Reissner-Nordström type $AdS_2\times S^2$. Such black holes exist for the dilaton coupling constant within the interval $0\leq a^2<a^2_{\rm cr}$. Black holes must be endowed with an electric charge and (possibly) with magnetic charge (dyons) but they can not be purely magnetic. Purely electric solutions are constructed numerically and the critical dilaton coupling is determined $a_{\rm cr}\simeq 0.488219703$. For each value of the di…
Quasinormal modes of Dirac field in the background of a non-Schwarzschild black holes in theories with higher curvature corrections are investigated in this paper. With the help of the semi-analytic WKB approximation and further using of Padé approximants as prescribed in [1] we consider quasinormal modes of a test massless Dirac field in the Einstein-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet (EdGB) and Einstein-Weyl (EW) theories. Even though the effective potential for one of the chiralities has a negative gap we show that the Dirac field is stable in both theories. We find the dependence of the modes on the new…
We present an investigation of spinning black holes in Einstein--Gauss-Bonnet--dilaton (EGBd) theory. The solutions are found within a non-perturbative approach, by directly solving the field equations. These stationary axially symmetric black holes are asymptotically flat. They possess a non-trivial scalar field outside their regular event horizon. We present an overview of the parameter space of the solutions together with a study of their basic properties. We point out that the EGBd black holes can exhibit some physical differences when compared to the Kerr solution. For example, their mass…
Cosmological horizon thermodynamics in Gauss-Bonnet quasi-dilaton Massive Gravity
Beijing Institute of Technology（北京理工大学）；Università di Camerino（卡梅里诺大学）；University at Albany-SUNY（纽约州立大学奥尔巴尼分校）；INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera（意大利国家天体物理研究所布雷拉天文台）；Al-Farabi Kazakh National University（阿尔法拉比哈萨克国立大学）
We add a Gauss-Bonnet term to the Einstein-Hilbert action and study the recent proposal to solve the cosmological constant problem. We also consider the possibility of adding a dilaton potential to the action. In the absence of supersymmetry, we obtain first order Bogomol'nyi equation as a solution-generating method in our scenario. When the coefficient of the Gauss-Bonnet term is positive, the dilaton potential is bounded below. Assuming a simple double-well potential, the dilaton field is found to be a kink in the fifth dimension.
We study black hole solutions in the Einstein gravity with Gauss-Bonnet term, the dilaton and a positive "cosmological constant" in various dimensions. Physically meaningful black holes with a positive cosmological term are obtained only for those in static spacetime with $(D-2)$-dimensional hyperbolic space of negative curvature and $D>4$. We construct such black hole solutions of various masses numerically in $D=5,6$ and 10 dimensional spacetime and discuss their properties. In spite of the positive cosmological constant the spacetime approach anti-de Sitter spacetime asymptotically. The bla…
We derive a stationary and axisymmetric black hole solution in Einstein-Dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet gravity to quadratic order in the ratio of the spin angular momentum to the black hole mass squared. This solution introduces new corrections to previously found nonspinning and linear-in-spin solutions. The location of the event horizon and the ergosphere are modified, as well as the quadrupole moment. The new solution is of Petrov type I, although lower order in spin solutions are of Petrov type D. There are no closed timelike curves or spacetime regions that violate causality outside of the event ho…
It is well-known that there exists a Hawking-Page phase transition between a spherical AdS black hole and a thermal AdS space. The phase transition does not happen between a Ricci flat AdS black hole whose horizon is a Ricci flat space and a thermal AdS space in the Poincare coordinates. However, the Hawking-Page phase transition occurs between a Ricci flat AdS black hole and an AdS soliton if at least one of horizon coordinates for the Ricci flat black hole is compact. We show a similar phase transition betwen the Ricci flat black holes and deformed AdS solitons in the Gauss-Bonnet gravity an…
We study black hole solutions in the Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity with the dilaton and a negative ``cosmological constant''. We derive the field equations for the static spherically symmetric ($k=1$) and hyperbolically symmetric ($k=-1$) spacetime in general $D$ dimensions. The system has some scaling symmetries which are used in our analysis of the solutions. We find exact solutions, i.e., regular AdS solution for $k=1$ and a massless black hole solution for $k=-1$. Nontrivial asymptotically AdS solutions are obtained numerically in D=4 -- 6 and 10 dimensional spacetimes. For spherically sym…
One of the most promising strategies to test gravity in the strong-field, large curvature regime is gravitational spectroscopy: the measurement of black hole quasi-normal modes from the ringdown signal emitted in the aftermath of a compact binary coalescence, searching for deviations from the predictions of general relativity. This strategy is only effective if we know how quasi-normal modes of black holes are affected by modifications of general relativity; and if we know this for rotating black holes, since binary coalescences typically lead to black holes with spins $J/M^2\sim 0.7$. In this…
Gravitational waves emitted by distorted black holes---such as those arising from the coalescence of two neutron stars or black holes---carry not only information about the corresponding spacetime but also about the underlying theory of gravity. Although general relativity remains the simplest, most elegant and viable theory of gravitation, there are generic and robust arguments indicating that it is not the ultimate description of the gravitational universe. Here we focus on a particularly appealing extension of general relativity, which corrects Einstein's theory through the addition of term…
