High-energy physics through gravitational waves

01/05/2019 to 30/04/2021

The advent of gravitational wave astronomy has provided us with new tools to study fundamental physics. Because the amount of gravitational radiation from a system is proportional to the energy and momentum fluxes, perturbed compact objects are expected to provide the best sources. In this research, we aim to develop new techniques for modelling high-energy transient phenomena associated with compact objects, such as fast radio bursts from neutron stars or black holes. Emphasis will be placed on including modified gravity terms, to quantify what potential impact they could have on wave amplitudes or polarisations. This will allow us to better understand how detections (or non-detections) of gravitational waves from these events can probe not only the behaviour of nuclear matter in astrophysical environments, but also the theory of general relativity.