Cosmologically coupled compact objects: a single parameter model for LIGO--Virgo mass and redshift distributions

TL;DR

This paper introduces a single-parameter model based on cosmological mass growth to explain the observed mass and redshift distributions of compact objects in LIGO--Virgo data, linking stellar evolution with cosmology.

Contribution

It proposes a novel single-parameter framework that accounts for cosmological mass growth of compact objects within the isolated binary evolution channel.

Findings

Reproduces LIGO--Virgo mass distribution with one parameter

Connects cosmological boundary conditions to compact object masses

Suggests observational tests for cosmological solutions

Abstract

We demonstrate a single-parameter route for reproducing higher mass objects as observed in the LIGO--Virgo mass distribution, using only the isolated binary stellar evolution channel. This single parameter encodes the cosmological mass growth of compact stellar remnants that exceed the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff limit. Cosmological mass growth appears in known solutions to General Relativity with cosmological boundary conditions. We consider the possibility of solutions with cosmological boundary conditions, which reduce to Kerr on timescales short compared to the Hubble time. We discuss complementary observational signatures of these solutions that can confirm or invalidate their astrophysical relevance.