Tidal Interactions in Strong Field Gravity

This project will study the structure of gravity and tidal deformations of black holes. The tidal force results from a gradient in the gravitational field of one body towards another, causing the former to distort. Gravitational tidal interactions leave a detectable imprint in gravitational-wave signals emitted by a binary system, and in turn can be used in understanding deviations from General Relativity. Identifying any deviations from this theory will radically enhance our fundamental knowledge about the structure of space-time, and determine what black holes really are. The research will be integrated with broader impact activities aimed to enthuse the general public, K-6 elementary school students, and physics undergraduates about science. The overall aim is to push forward the computational frontier in tidal interactions aiming at testing the nature of compact objects by importing computational methods from high-energy physics. The objectives are: (1) determine the tidal deformability (Love numbers) of different compact objects and black holes, (2) assess underlying symmetries in tidal interactions in the exterior/interior of black holes and, (3) construct the tidal Love numbers of black holes in alternative theories of General Relativity. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.