Dr. Nicholas Loutrel, Milan-Bicocca

Title: Testing the Black Hole No-Hair Theorems with Precessing Binaries

Abstract: Black holes in general relativity obey the no-hair theorems, which predict that their multipolar structure is axisymmetric and only dependent on three parameter: mass, spin angular momentum, and electric charge. However, exotic compact objects that can mimic black holes need not obey such theorems, and more recently, solutions have been found that break axisymmetry. While such objects are purely theoretical, they act as useful test beds for studying the nature of black holes in general relativity. To this end, I will show the multipolar structure of generic compact objects affects the precession dynamics of a binary system, and how this may be used to perform smoking gun tests of the no-hair theorems from the binary’s subsequent gravitational wave emission.