Scalar Tops and Perturbed Quadrupoles: Probing Fundamental Physics with Spin-Precessing Binaries

TL;DR

This paper explores how gravitational waves from spin-precessing black hole binaries can be used to test for parity violation in gravity, specifically within dynamical Chern-Simons theory, by deriving waveforms and estimating observational constraints.

Contribution

It introduces the first analysis of gravitational wave signatures from spin-precessing binaries in parity-violating gravity, providing a method to constrain such theories with future observations.

Findings

Derived spin-precession equations in dynamical Chern-Simons gravity

Calculated gravitational waveforms for spin-precessing binaries

Estimated constraints on parity violation from future gravitational wave data

Abstract

Parity violation in the gravitational interaction has an important impact on fundamental observables and the evolution of the universe. We here investigate for the first time our ability to probe the parity violating nature of the gravitational interaction using gravitational waves from spin-precessing binaries. Focusing on dynamical Chern-Simons gravity, we derive the spin-precession equations, calculate the gravitational waves emitted by spin-precessing, quasi-circular black hole binaries and estimate the level to which the theory could be constrained with future gravitational wave observations.