Fundamental Physics Seminar Series - Probing New Physics from Gravitational Wave Observation

Abstract of talk

Since the successful detection of gravitational wave signal emitted from a binary black hole by the LIGO detectors in 2015, gravitational wave observation has become a new tool for understanding fundamental physics. In particular, since gravitational waves contain direct information about strong gravitational fields, they allow us to test general relativity in this regime.

Gravitational waves emitted from binary black holes can be decomposed into three phases: inspiral, merger and ringdown. However, if the remnant object does not possess an event horizon, we may expect additional signals after the ringdown phase, known as gravitational wave echoes. In this talk, the speaker will provide an overview of tests of general relativity from gravitational wave observations and introduce the search for the gravitational wave echoes. She will also briefly discuss the data analysis activities at KAGRA.


About the speaker

Dr. Nami Uchikata is currently a Project Researcher at the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research at the University of Tokyo. She obtained her Ph.D. from Tohoku University in 2013. She has had experience as a postdoc in Lisbon, Osaka, Niigata and Kashiwa. Dr. Uchikata’s research interests lie in black hole physics and gravitational wave data analysis. She is a KAGRA member and is also working on detector characterization.


About the Center for Fundamental Physics

For more information, please refer to https://cfp.hkust.edu.hk/.

For Attendees' Attention

• Seating is on a first come, first served basis.