Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Speaker: Miguel Zilhão (University of Aveiro)
Abstract: New light fundamental fields are natural candidates for all or a fraction of dark matter. Self-gravitating structures of such fields might be common objects in the universe, and could comprise even galactic haloes. These structures interact gravitationally with black holes; this can affect their lifetime, influence the black hole motion, and also contribute to the emission of gravitational radiation. I will present a study on the dynamics of a black hole piercing through a much larger fully relativistic boson star, made of a complex minimally coupled massive scalar. As the black hole pierces through the bosonic structure, it is slowed down by accretion and dynamical friction, giving rise to gravitational wave emission. We find evidence of a “gravitational atom” left behind as a product of the process.
Speaker: Miguel Zilhão (University of Aveiro)
Abstract: New light fundamental fields are natural candidates for all or a fraction of dark matter. Self-gravitating structures of such fields might be common objects in the universe, and could comprise even galactic haloes. These structures interact gravitationally with black holes; this can affect their lifetime, influence the black hole motion, and also contribute to the emission of gravitational radiation. I will present a study on the dynamics of a black hole piercing through a much larger fully relativistic boson star, made of a complex minimally coupled massive scalar. As the black hole pierces through the bosonic structure, it is slowed down by accretion and dynamical friction, giving rise to gravitational wave emission. We find evidence of a “gravitational atom” left behind as a product of the process.
