Gravitational Wave Sources at the Heart of Galaxies
Smadar Maoz
UCLA

"The detection of gravitational waves from merging stellar-mass black holes and neutron stars by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) has revolutionized our understanding of the universe. However, the origins of these mergers remain a puzzle. In this talk, I will demonstrate how the dense stellar environments surrounding supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in galactic centers naturally produce gravitational wave sources consistent with LIGO observations. Nearly every galaxy, including our Milky Way, hosts an SMBH at its core, surrounded by dense populations of stars and stellar remnants. I will discuss how these unique environments can also lead to star-star and star-BH collisions, offering a window into the dynamic interactions in galactic nuclei. The Milky Way?s Galactic Center provides a nearby laboratory for exploring these processes, offering insights into phenomena occurring across other galactic nuclei. Finally, I will present predictions to distinguish these mergers from other astrophysical sources in both gravitational-wave observatories like LIGO and LISA and through their potential electromagnetic signatures."

Date:	Mardi, le 4 février 2025
Heure:	15:30
Lieu:	Université McGill
	Bell Room (Rutherford 103)