Gravitational-wave astronomy: from black holes to the cosmos

With the LIGO-Virgo detectors currently undergoing their 4th observing round, gravitational-wave astronomy has matured into an exciting and fast-developing field with implications for astrophysics, nuclear physics, gravity and cosmology. In this talk, I will review this progress, highlighting recent developments in further understanding the (astro)physics of black holes and their mergers. This includes measurements of black hole spins and merger kicks, their use as cosmological probes, and the spectroscopic study of ringing black holes. I will outline some of the theoretical and observational questions driving this field: how do black holes form? Are they stable? Can we leverage them as probes of new fundamental fields or cosmic expansion? How does the nonlinear nature of gravity manifest in black hole mergers? I will conclude by arguing that we are at the cusp of answering these and many other questions, as we enter the era of precision gravitational-wave science: given the continued improvement of existing detectors, and the prospect of next generation observatories in space and on the ground, the greatest discoveries are yet to come.

There will be light refreshments at the conclusion of the colloquium in the faculty lounge (Wean Hall 7425).