Pawan Kumar Gupta, PhD at Nikhef, will defend his thesis Monday 9 oktober 2023 at 16.15 at the Utrecht University.
“ Probing compact objects with gravitational waves – Bounding dark charges on black holes and exploring gravitomagnetic tides on neutron stars”
A neutron star in a binary system is deformed due to tidal forces of its companion, either a neutron star or a black hole. This effect is similar to what happens here on Earth when the moon’s gravity raises the ocean tides. Internal oscillations of the neutron star arise when the companion’s tidal force varies at a frequency close to the star’s characteristic frequency. This is like a bridge oscillating when a band marches at a pace matching its frequency. The amount of tidal deformation and the characteristic frequency depend on matter inside neutron stars. Any tidal response of the star leaves a distinct imprint on the gravitational waves emitted by the binary. Thus, gravitational waves will reveal unique information about matter inside neutron stars.
In my research, we modelled tidal effects for a binary neutron stars and their effect on the gravitational waves signal. We used this model to understand the effect of tides on matter inside neutron stars using third-generation gravitational wave observatories such as Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer.
Most of the matter in the Universe is made of dark matter which cannot be directly observed. It is called ”dark” because it does not interact with light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation. In my research, we also explored the possibility of detecting dark matter using gravitational waves from binary black holes.
“ Probing compact objects with gravitational waves – Bounding dark charges on black holes and exploring gravitomagnetic tides on neutron stars” (pdf)
The PhD defense will take place Monday 9 oktober, at 16.15 in the Academiegebouw, Domplein 29, 3512 JE Utrecht.
More information on the website of the Utrecht University.
Supervisor: prof. dr. C.F.F. Van Den Broeck
Co-supervisor: dr. T.P. Hinderer
Contact: Pawan Kumar Gupta