Research area · 01

Gravitational-wave astronomy

Using gravitational-wave signals to study compact objects, cosmic populations, the expansion of the universe, and the laws of gravity.

Gravitational waves reveal systems that may be dark to conventional telescopes. We connect source models to detector data to infer the masses, spins, dynamics, and environments of compact objects and to test the physical assumptions behind those models.

Questions we pursue

• What can individual signals and source populations tell us about black holes and neutron stars?
• How can gravitational waves test general relativity and distinguish exotic compact objects?
• How can present and next-generation detectors constrain cosmology and the history of compact binaries?
• How can robust statistical inference separate subtle physical effects from detector noise?