Gravity seminar - Francisco Duque Seminar

Event details

Title: Towards relativistic modelling of EMRIs in accretion discs

Abstract: The interaction of extreme-mass-ratio inspirals with dense astrophysical environments, like accretion discs in galactic centers, promotes their formation and can lead to observable signatures in their GW signature. If not accounted for, these effects lead to systematic biases that jeopardise the science goals of the upcoming Laser Interferometer Space Antenna. In this talk, I will present recent advances in the modelling of EMRIs embedded in accretion discs. I will show how relativistic corrections to the torques exerted by the disc on the EMRI significantly amplify their strength by orders of magnitude in the strong-field region, and can even lead to sign reversal of the torque close to ISCO. I will also discuss how eccentricity changes the fundamental nature of the binary-disc interaction and how these improves constraints on the disc properties. I will conclude by outlining the plan of the recently formed project of the LISA Consortium on Developing EMRI waveforms with accretion discs and its connection with the development of  a parametrised post-adiabatic EMRI waveform framework.