Fundamental physics with future gravitational wave observatories

Primary supervisors: Hiranya Peiris and Andrew Pontzen

Gravitational waves are an exciting frontier at the intersection of physics, astronomy and cosmology. At present, the waves detected by LIGO and VIRGO emanate from relatively nearby objects in relation to the scale of the universe but, in the coming decades, new facilities (Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer) will be sensitive enough to detect signals from across the entire Universe. Simultaneously, the LISA satellite mission will open up the low frequency band for observations, giving a multiband view of the extreme universe. There is a huge potential for new discoveries, such as probing phase transitions in the earliest moments of the universe or understanding how supermassive black holes are formed in our universe. The goal of this project is to create precise modelling of such signals, informing the planning and design of these exciting future facilities. The work will mainly be theoretical and computational in nature but will connect to the experimental context.

For more information contact Hiranya Peiris (Astro) and Andrew Pontzen (Astro)