This content will become publicly available on April 30, 2027

Title: Tests of general relativity with GW230529: A neutron star merging with a lower mass-gap compact object
On May 29, 2023, the LIGO Livingston observatory detected the gravitational-wave signal GW230529_181500 from the merger of a neutron star with a lower mass-gap compact object. Its long inspiral signal provides a unique opportunity to test general relativity (GR) in a parameter space previously unexplored by strong-field tests. In this work, we performed parameterized inspiral tests of GR with GW230529_181500. Specifically, we search for deviations in the frequency-domain gravitational wave phase by allowing for agnostic corrections to the post-Newtonian coefficients. We performed tests with the Flexible Theory Independent and Test Infrastructure For General Relativity frameworks using several quasicircular waveform models that capture different physical effects (higher modes, spins, tides). We find that the signal is consistent with GR for all deviation parameters. Assuming the primary object is a black hole, we obtain particularly tight constraints on the dipole radiation at −1PN order of |δ φ^−2 |≲8×10−5 , which is a factor ∼17 times more stringent than previous bounds from the neutron star–black hole merger GW200115_042309, as well as on the 0.5PN and 1PN deviation parameters. We discuss some challenges that arise when analyzing this signal, namely biases due to correlations with tidal effects and the degeneracy between the 0PN deviation parameter and the chirp mass. To illustrate the importance of GW230529_181500 for tests of GR, we mapped the agnostic −1PN results to a class of Einstein-scalar-Gauss-Bonnet (ESGB) theories of gravity. We also conducted an analysis probing the specific phase deviation expected in ESGB theory and obtain an upper bound on the Gauss-Bonnet coupling of ℓGB≲0.51M⊙ ( αGB ≲0.28  km ), which is better than any previously reported constraint.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2409448
PAR ID:
10703926
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
American Physical Society
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Physical Review D
Volume:
113
Issue:
8
ISSN:
2470-0010
Page Range / eLocation ID:
084070
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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