Effective field theories of gravity and compact binary dynamics: A Snowmass 2021 whitepaper

TL;DR

This whitepaper reviews the application of effective field theory techniques to classical and quantum gravity, emphasizing their role in understanding compact binary systems relevant to gravitational wave astronomy.

Contribution

It introduces novel EFT methods tailored for gravity, addressing spacetime geometry complexities and applying them to binary dynamics for gravitational wave research.

Findings

EFT provides a systematic framework for gravity calculations.

Application to binary systems improves gravitational wave modeling.

Enhances interpretation of LIGO/VIRGO data.

Abstract

In this whitepaper, I describe modern applications of effective field theory (EFT) techniques to classical and quantum gravity, with relevance to problems in astrophysics and cosmology. As in applications of EFT to high-energy, nuclear, or condensed matter physics, the Wilsonian paradigm based on decoupling of short distance scales via renormalization group evolution remains a powerful organizing principle in the context of gravity. However, the presence of spacetime geometry brings in new elements ( non-trivial time-dependence, cosmological or black hole event horizons) which necessitate the introduction of novel field theoretic methods not usually encountered in applications of EFTs to physics at the energy and intensity frontiers. After a brief overview of recent developments in the application of EFT methods to gravity, I will focus on the EFT description of compact binary dynamics, including an overview of some of its applications to the experimental program in gravitational wave detection at LIGO/VIRGO and other observatories.