pith. sign in

arxiv: 1701.01116 · v4 · pith:B4ABLRTDnew · submitted 2017-01-04 · 🌀 gr-qc · astro-ph.HE· hep-ph· hep-th

Testing strong-field gravity with tidal Love numbers

classification 🌀 gr-qc astro-ph.HEhep-phhep-th
keywords tlnsobjectsblackcompactgeneralholesincludinglisa
0
0 comments X
read the original abstract

The tidal Love numbers (TLNs) encode the deformability of a self-gravitating object immersed in a tidal environment and depend significantly both on the object's internal structure and on the dynamics of the gravitational field. An intriguing result in classical general relativity is the vanishing of the TLNs of black holes. We extend this result in three ways, aiming at testing the nature of compact objects: (i) we compute the TLNs of exotic compact objects, including different families of boson stars, gravastars, wormholes, and other toy models for quantum corrections at the horizon scale. In the black-hole limit, we find a universal logarithmic dependence of the TLNs on the location of the surface; (ii) we compute the TLNs of black holes beyond vacuum general relativity, including Einstein-Maxwell, Brans-Dicke and Chern-Simons gravity; (iii) We assess the ability of present and future gravitational-wave detectors to measure the TLNs of these objects, including the first analysis of TLNs with LISA. Both LIGO, ET and LISA can impose interesting constraints on boson stars, while LISA is able to probe even extremely compact objects. We argue that the TLNs provide a smoking gun of new physics at the horizon scale, and that future gravitational-wave measurements of the TLNs in a binary inspiral provide a novel way to test black holes and general relativity in the strong-field regime.

This paper has not been read by Pith yet.

discussion (0)

Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.

Forward citations

Cited by 18 Pith papers

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score.

  1. Testing the Kerr hypothesis beyond the quadrupole with GW241011

    gr-qc 2026-04 unverdicted novelty 8.0

    GW241011 data shows consistency with Kerr black holes for both quadrupole and octupole moments and delivers the first observational bounds on spin-induced octupole deviations.

  2. Axial tidal Love numbers of black holes in matter environments

    gr-qc 2026-05 unverdicted novelty 7.0

    Axial tidal Love numbers for black holes in anisotropic fluid environments are derived analytically and numerically, with non-compact support density profiles producing logarithmic terms that obstruct standard tidal m...

  3. Dynamical tidal Love numbers of black holes under generic perturbations: Connecting black hole perturbation theory with effective field theory

    gr-qc 2026-05 unverdicted novelty 7.0

    Dynamical tidal Love numbers for Kerr black holes are obtained to linear frequency order by matching EFT worldline couplings to black-hole perturbation solutions, including spin-induced mode mixing.

  4. Lessons from binary dynamics of inspiralling equal-mass boson-star mergers

    gr-qc 2026-04 unverdicted novelty 7.0

    Numerical simulations of equal-mass boson-star mergers reveal larger waveform deviations from black-hole binaries in late inspiral and merger, plus odd multipole excitations for certain scalar-field phases, with some ...

  5. 5-Dimensional Gravitational Raman Scattering: Scalar Wave Perturbations in Schwarzschild-Tangherlini Spacetime

    hep-th 2025-05 unverdicted novelty 7.0

    Derives closed 5D partial-wave Raman scattering amplitude via NS functions and computes non-vanishing dynamical ℓ=0 and static ℓ=1 scalar tidal Love numbers with RG running up to O(G²) for STBH.

  6. Tidal Response and Thermodynamics of Black Holes

    hep-th 2026-04 unverdicted novelty 6.0

    A new gauge-invariant effective action computes black hole Love numbers without Regge-Wheeler methods, and these numbers determine leading thermodynamic corrections under external perturbations.

  7. Bosonic and Fermionic love number of static acoustic black hole

    hep-th 2025-12 unverdicted novelty 6.0

    Static Love numbers for bosonic and fermionic fields around acoustic black holes follow universal power laws for fermions and exhibit logarithmic structures for bosons in lower dimensions.

  8. Tidal Love numbers for regular black holes

    gr-qc 2025-12 unverdicted novelty 6.0

    Tidal Love numbers of regular black holes are generically nonzero, model-dependent, and can acquire logarithmic scale dependence at higher perturbative orders.

  9. Neutron stars more compact than black holes in quasi-topological gravity: Equilibrium configurations and radial stability

    gr-qc 2026-05 unverdicted novelty 5.0

    In quasi-topological gravity, neutron stars can surpass black-hole compactness with universal high-density behavior and theory corrections that stabilize radially unstable configurations from general relativity.

  10. Can wormholes have vanishing Love numbers?

    gr-qc 2026-05 unverdicted novelty 5.0

    For a specific R=0 wormhole, the magnetic Love number for ℓ=2 vanishes to linear order in the regularization parameter under static axial gravitational perturbations.

  11. Dynamical Tidal Response of Non-rotating Black Holes: Connecting the MST Formalism and Worldline EFT

    gr-qc 2025-11 unverdicted novelty 5.0

    Renormalized dynamical tidal response functions for non-rotating black holes in GR carry inevitable ambiguities from renormalization scheme and flow initial condition, yielding scheme-dependent dynamical tidal Love nu...

  12. Tests of General Relativity with Binary Black Holes from the second LIGO-Virgo Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog

    gr-qc 2020-10 accept novelty 5.0

    No evidence for deviations from general relativity is found in LIGO-Virgo binary black hole events, with improved constraints on waveform parameters, graviton mass, and ringdown properties.

  13. The Science of the Einstein Telescope

    gr-qc 2025-03 unverdicted novelty 3.0

    The paper provides state-of-the-art predictions for the Einstein Telescope's impact on fundamental physics, cosmology, compact-object astrophysics, and multi-messenger astronomy across its proposed configurations.

  14. Science with the Einstein Telescope: a comparison of different designs

    gr-qc 2023-03 unverdicted novelty 3.0

    The paper evaluates how triangular versus two-L-shaped geometries, arm lengths, and presence of low-frequency instruments affect the science reach of the Einstein Telescope for compact binaries, multi-messenger events...

  15. Tests of General Relativity with GWTC-3

    gr-qc 2021-12 accept novelty 3.0

    No evidence for physics beyond general relativity is found in the analysis of 15 GW events from GWTC-3, with consistency in residuals, PN parameters, and remnant properties.

  16. Science Case for the Einstein Telescope

    astro-ph.CO 2019-12 unverdicted novelty 3.0

    The Einstein Telescope will enable gravitational-wave observations up to cosmological distances, opening avenues for discoveries in astrophysics, cosmology, and fundamental physics.

  17. Testing the nature of dark compact objects: a status report

    gr-qc 2019-04 accept novelty 2.0

    Current and future observations can test whether dark compact objects are Kerr black holes or exotic alternatives, with null results strengthening the black hole paradigm.

  18. Dynamical Boson Stars

    gr-qc 2012-02 unverdicted novelty 2.0

    Boson stars are particle-like solutions in general relativity that model dark matter, black hole mimickers, and binary systems.