Black hole binaries and light fields: Gravitational molecules

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We show that light scalars can form quasibound states around binaries. In the nonrelativistic regime, these states are formally described by the quantum-mechanical Schrodinger equation for a one-electron heteronuclear diatomic molecule. We performed extensive numerical simulations of scalar fields around black hole binaries, showing that a scalar structure condenses around the binary-we dub these states "gravitational molecules." We further show that these are well described by the perturbative, nonrelativistic description.

Original languageEnglish
Article number024020
JournalPhysical Review D
Volume103
Issue number2
Number of pages17
ISSN2470-0010
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Jan 2021
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • RELATIVITY, EQUATION

ID: 298633843