arXiv subjects

Carlos Herdeiro

Publications and source records attributed to Carlos Herdeiro.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Kaluza-Klein monopole with scalar hair

We construct a new family of rotating black holes with scalar hair and a regular horizon of spherical topology, within five dimensional ($d=5$) Einstein's gravity minimally coupled to a complex, massive scalar field doublet. These solutions represent generalizations of the Kaluza-Klein monopole found by Gross, Perry and Sorkin, with a twisted $S^1$ bundle over a four dimensional Minkowski spacetime being approached in the far field. The black holes are described by their mass, angular momentum, tension and a conserved Noether charge measuring the hairiness of the configurations. They are supported by rotation and have no static limit, while for vanishing horizon size, they reduce to boson stars. When performing a Kaluza-Klein reduction, the $d=5$ solutions yield a family of $d=4$ spherically symmetric dyonic black holes with gauged scalar hair. This provides a link between two seemingly unrelated mechanisms to endow a black hole with scalar hair: the $d=5$ synchronization condition between the scalar field frequency and the event horizon angular velocity results in the $d=4$ resonance condition between the scalar field frequency and the electrostatic chemical potential.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Searching for vector boson-star mergers within LIGO-Virgo intermediate-mass black-hole merger candidates

We present the first systematic search for exotic compact mergers in Advanced LIGO and Virgo events. We compare the short gravitational-wave signals GW190521, GW190426$\_$190642, GW200220$\_$061928 and the trigger 200114$\_$020818 (or S200114f) to a new catalogue of 759 numerical simulations of head-on mergers of horizonless exotic compact objects known as Proca stars, interpreted as self-gravitating lumps of (fuzzy) dark matter sourced by an ultralight (vector) bosonic particle. The Proca-star merger hypothesis is strongly rejected with respect to the black hole merger one by GW190426, weakly rejected by GW200220 and weakly favoured by GW190521 and S200114f. GW190521 and GW200220 yield highly consistent boson masses of $μ_{\rm B} = 8.69^{+0.61}_{-0.75}\times10^{-13}$ eV and $μ_{\rm B} = 9.13^{+1.18}_{-1.30}\times10^{-13}$ eV at the $90\%$ credible level. We conduct a preliminary population study of the compact binaries behind these events. Excluding (including) S200114f as a real event, and ignoring boson-mass consistencies across events, we estimate a fraction of Proca-star mergers of $ζ= 0.27^{+0.43}_{-0.25} \ (0.39^{+0.38}_{-0.33})$. We discuss the impact of boson-mass consistency across events in such estimates. Our results maintain GW190521 as a Proca-star merger candidate and pave the way towards population studies considering exotic compact objects.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Gravitational-wave parameter inference with the Newman-Penrose scalar $ψ_4$

Detection and parameter inference of gravitational-wave signals \ncor{from compact mergers} rely on the comparison of the incoming detector strain data $d(t)$ to waveform templates for the gravitational-wave strain $h(t)$ that ultimately rely on the resolution of Einstein's equations via numerical relativity simulations. These, however, commonly output a quantity known as the Newman-Penrose scalar $ψ_4(t)$ which, under the Bondi gauge, is related to the gravitational-wave strain by $ψ_4(t)=\mathrm{d}^2h(t) / \mathrm{d}t^2$. Therefore, obtaining strain templates involves an integration process that introduces artefacts that need to be treated in a rather manual way. By taking second-order finite differences on the detector data and inferring the corresponding background noise distribution, we develop a framework to perform gravitational-wave data analysis directly using $ψ_4(t)$ templates. We first demonstrate this formalism, and the impact of integration artefacts in strain templates, through the recovery of numerically simulated signals from head-on collisions of Proca stars injected in Advanced LIGO noise. Next, we re-analyse the event GW190521 under the hypothesis of a Proca-star merger, obtaining results equivalent to those in Ref.[1], where we used the classical strain framework. We find, however, that integration errors would strongly impact our analysis if GW190521 was four times louder. Finally, we show that our framework fixes significant biases in the interpretation of the high-mass GW trigger S200114f arising from the usage of strain templates. We remove the need to obtain strain waveforms from numerical relativity simulations, avoiding the associated systematic errors.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Self-interacting dipolar boson stars and their dynamics

We construct and dynamically evolve dipolar, self-interacting scalar boson stars in a model with sextic (+ quartic) self-interactions. The domain of existence of such dipolar $Q$-stars has a similar structure to that of the fundamental monopolar stars of the same model. For the latter it is structured in a Newtonian plus a relativistic branch, wherein perturbatively stable solutions exist, connected by a middle unstable branch. Our evolutions support similar dynamical properties of the dipolar $Q$-stars that: 1) in the Newtonian and relativistic branches are dynamically robust over time scales longer than those for which dipolar stars without self-interactions are seen to decay; 2) in the middle branch migrate to either the Newtonian or the relativistic branch; 3) beyond the relativistic branch decay to black holes. Overall, these results strengthen the observation, seen in other contexts, that self-interactions can mitigate dynamical instabilities of scalar boson star models.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Bondi-Hoyle-Lyttleton accretion onto a rotating black hole with ultralight scalar hair

We present a numerical study of relativistic Bondi-Hoyle-Lyttleton (BHL) accretion onto an asymptotically flat black hole with synchronized hair. The hair is sourced by an ultralight, complex scalar field, minimally coupled to Einstein's gravity. Our simulations consider a supersonic flow parametrized by the asymptotic values of the fluid quantities and a sample of hairy black holes with different masses, angular momenta, and amount of scalar hair. For all models, steady-state BHL accretion solutions are attained that are characterized by the presence of a shock-cone and a stagnation point downstream. For the models of the sample with the largest component of scalar field, the shock-cone envelops fully the black hole, transitioning into a bow-shock, and the stagnation points move further away downstream. Analytical expressions for the mass accretion rates are obtained after fitting the numerical results, which can be used to analyze black-hole formation scenarios in the presence of ultralight scalar fields. The formation of a shock-cone leads to regions where sound waves can be trapped and resonant oscillations excited. We measure the frequencies of such quasi-periodic oscillations and point out a possible association with quasi-periodic oscillations in the X-ray light curve of Sgr~A* and microquasars.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

Stability and physical properties of spherical excited scalar boson stars

We study the time evolution of spherical, excited -- with $n$ radial nodes -- scalar boson stars in General Relativity minimally coupled to a complex massive scalar field with quartic self-interactions. We report that these stars, with up to $n=10$, can be made dynamically stable, up to timescales of $t\sim\frac{10^{4}}{cμ}$, where $μ$ is the inverse Compton wavelength of the scalar particle, for sufficiently large values of the self-interactions coupling constant $λ$, which depend on $n$. We observe that the compactness of these solutions is rather insensitive to $n$, for large $λ$ and fixed frequency. Generically, along the branches where stability was studied, these excited boson stars are not compact enough to allow for innermost stable circular orbits or light rings. Finally, we discuss the angular velocity of particles along timelike circular orbits, suggesting an application, for solutions in the Newtonian limit, to galactic rotation curves.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Impact of the wave-like nature of Proca stars on their gravitational-wave emission

We present a systematic study of the dynamics and gravitational-wave emission of head-on collisions of spinning vector boson stars, known as Proca stars. To this aim we build a catalogue of about 800 numerical-relativity simulations of such systems. We find that the wave-like nature of bosonic stars has a large impact on the gravitational-wave emission. In particular, we show that the initial relative phase $Δε=ε_1-ε_2$ of the two complex fields forming the stars (or equivalently, the relative phase at merger) strongly impacts both the emitted gravitational-wave energy and the corresponding mode structure. This leads to a non-monotonic dependence of the emission on the frequency of the secondary star $ω_2$, for fixed frequency $ω_1$ of the primary. This phenomenology, which has not been found for the case of black-hole mergers, reflects the distinct ability of the Proca field to interact with itself in both constructive and destructive manners. We postulate this may serve as a smoking gun to shed light on the possible existence of these objects.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Exotic Compact Objects and the Fate of the Light-Ring Instability

Ultracompact objects with light-rings (LRs) but without an event horizon could mimic black holes (BHs) in their strong gravity phenomenology. But are such objects dynamically viable? Stationary and axisymmetric ultracompact objects that can form from smooth, quasi-Minkowski initial data must have at least one stable LR, which has been argued to trigger a spacetime instability; but its development and fate have been unknown. Using fully non-linear numerical evolutions of ultracompact bosonic stars free of any other known instabilities and introducing a novel adiabatic effective potential technique, we confirm the LRs triggered instability, identifying two possible fates: migration to non-ultracompact configurations or collapse to BHs. In concrete examples we show that typical migration/collapse time scales are not larger than $\sim 10^3$ light-crossing times, unless the stable LR potential well is very shallow. Our results show that the LR instability is effective in destroying horizonless ultracompact objects that could be plausible BH imitators.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Proca-Higgs balls and stars in a UV completion for Proca self-interactions

We consider a Proca-Higgs model wherein a complex vector field gains mass via spontaneous symmetry breaking, by coupling to a real scalar field with a Higgs-type potential. This vector version of the scalar Friedberg-Lee-Sirlin model, can be considered as a UV completion of a complex Proca model with self-interactions. We study the flat spacetime and self-gravitating solitons of the model, that we dub Proca-Higgs \textit{balls} and \textit{stars} respectively, exploring the domain of solutions and describing some of their mathematical and physical properties. The stars reduce to the well-known (mini-)Proca stars in some limits. The full model evades the hyperbolicity problems of the self-interacting Proca models, offering novel possibilities for dynamical studies beyond mini-Proca stars.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

$D=5$ static, charged black holes, strings and rings with resonant, scalar $Q$-hair

A mechanism for circumventing the Mayo-Bekenstein no-hair theorem allows endowing four dimensional $(D=4)$ asymptotically flat, spherical, electro-vacuum black holes with a minimally coupled $U(1)$-gauged scalar field profile: $Q$-$hair$. The scalar field must be massive, self-interacting and obey a {\it resonance condition} at the threshold of (charged) superradiance. We establish generality for this mechanism by endowing three different types of static black objects with scalar hair, within a $D=5$ Einstein-Maxwell-gauged scalar field model: asymptotically flat black holes and black rings; and black strings which asymptote to a Kaluza-Klein vacuum. These $D=5$ $Q$-hairy black objects share many of the features of their $D=4$ counterparts. In particular, the scalar field is subject to a resonance condition and possesses a $Q$-ball type potential. For the static black ring, the charged scalar hair can balance it, yielding solutions that are singularity free on and outside the horizon.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Head-on collisions of $\ell$-boson stars

Fully non-linear numerical evolutions of the Einstein-(multi)--Klein-Gordon equations are performed to study head-on collisions of $\ell$-boson stars. Despite being spherically symmetric, $\ell$-boson stars have a (hidden) frame of reference, used in defining their individual multipolar fields. To assess the impact of their relative orientation, we perform simulations with different angles between the axes of the two colliding stars. Additionally, two scenarios are considered for the colliding stars: that they are composites of either the same or different scalar fields. Despite some model-specific behaviours, the simulations generically indicate that: 1) the collision of two sufficiently (and equally) massive stars leads to black hole formation; 2) below a certain mass threshold the end result of the evolution is a bound state of the composite scalar fields, that neither disperses nor collapses into a black hole within the simulation time; 3) this end product (generically) deviates from spherical symmetry and the equipartition of the number of bosonic particles between the different scalar fields composing the initial boson stars is lost, albeit not dramatically. This last observation indicates, albeit without being conclusive, that the end result of these collisions belongs to the previously reported larger family of equilibrium multi-field boson stars, generically non-spherical, and of which $\ell$-boson stars are a symmetry enhanced point. We also extract and discuss the waveforms from the collisions studied.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

New Horizons for Fundamental Physics with LISA

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) has the potential to reveal wonders about the fundamental theory of nature at play in the extreme gravity regime, where the gravitational interaction is both strong and dynamical. In this white paper, the Fundamental Physics Working Group of the LISA Consortium summarizes the current topics in fundamental physics where LISA observations of GWs can be expected to provide key input. We provide the briefest of reviews to then delineate avenues for future research directions and to discuss connections between this working group, other working groups and the consortium work package teams. These connections must be developed for LISA to live up to its science potential in these areas.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Spinning gauged boson and Dirac stars: a comparative study

Scalar boson stars and Dirac stars are solitonic solutions of the Einstein{Klein-Gordon and Einstein- Dirac classical equations, respectively. Despite the different bosonic vs: fermionic nature of the matter field, these solutions to the classical field equations have been shown to have qualitatively similar features [1]. In particular, for spinning stars the most fundamental configurations can be in both cases toroidal, unlike spinning Proca stars that are spheroidal [2]. In this paper we gauge the scalar and Dirac fields, by minimally coupling them to standard electromagnetism. We explore the impact of the gauge coupling on the resulting solutions. One of the most relevant difference concerns the gyromagnetic ratio, which for the scalar stars takes values around 1, whereas for Dirac stars takes values around 2.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Self-interactions can stabilize excited boson stars

We study the time evolution of spherical, excited ($i.e.$ nodeful) boson star models. We consider a model including quartic self-interactions, controlled by a coupling $Λ$. Performing non-linear simulations of the Einstein-(complex)-Klein-Gordon system, using as initial data equilibrium boson stars solutions of that system, we assess the impact of $Λ$ in the stability properties of the boson stars. In the absence of self-interactions ($Λ=0$), we observe the known behaviour that the excited stars in the (candidate) stable branch decay to a non-excited star without a node; however, we show that for large enough values of the self-interactions coupling, these excited stars do not decay (up to timescales of about $t\sim 10^4$). The stabilization of the excited states for large enough self-interactions is further supported by evidence that the nodeful states dynamically form through the gravitational cooling mechanism, starting from dilute initial data. Our results support the healing power (against dynamical instabilities) of self-interactions, recently unveiled in the context of the non-axisymmetric instabilities of spinning boson stars.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

GW190521 formation scenarios via relativistic accretion

The recent gravitational wave transient GW190521 has been interpreted by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration (LVC) as sourced by a binary black hole (BH) merger. According to the LVC parameter estimation, at least one of these progenitors falls into the so-called pair-instability supernova mass gap. This raises the important question of how and when these progenitors formed. In this paper we use an accretion model with super-Eddington mass accretion rate obtained from General Relativity hydrodynamics simulations to analyse the scenario wherein the GW190521 original progenitors (OPs) formed at lower masses (and spins) and grew to their estimated LVC parameters by relativistic accretion. We consider that the environment wherein the binary is immersed has density gradients as well as a dependence on the Mach number of the gas. Taking the LVC parameter estimation at $z=0.82$ as the endpoint of the accretion evolution, we estimate the initial masses and spins of the OPs at three different red-shifts $z=100, \ 50$, and $20$. We found three distinct possible types of OPs: $(i)$ $10^{-4} M_{\odot} - 3 M_{\odot}$ almost non-rotating (with Kerr spin parameter $a_{\star}< 10^{-2}$) primordial BHs; $(ii)$ $3 M_{\odot} - 40M_{\odot}$ slowly rotating ($ 10^{-2} < a_{\star} < 0.5$) stellar mass BHs; $(iii)$ $40M_{\odot} - 70M_{\odot}$ BHs with a moderate spin parameter $a_{\star}\sim 0.5$, which could originate from the collapse of high mass Pop III stars. The mass spread is due to varying the density gradient and the relativistic Mach number of the cosmic plasma; the variation of the masses due to the origin at different red-shifts, on the other hand, is negligible, $\sim 2\%$ ...

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Magnetized accretion disks around Kerr black holes with scalar hair -- Nonconstant angular momentum disks

We present new equilibrium solutions of stationary models of magnetized thick disks (or tori) around Kerr black holes with synchronised scalar hair. The models reported here largely extend our previous results based on constant radial distributions of the specific angular momentum along the equatorial plane. We introduce a new way to prescribe the distribution of the disk's angular momentum based on a combination of two previous proposals and compute the angular momentum distribution outside the equatorial plane by resorting to the construction of von Zeipel cylinders. We find that the effect of the scalar hair on the black hole spacetime can yield significant differences in the disk morphology and properties compared to what is found if the spacetime is purely Kerr. Some of the tori built within the most extreme, background hairy black hole spacetime of our sample exhibit the appearance of two maxima in the gravitational energy density which impacts the radial profile distributions of the disk's thermodynamical quantities. The models reported in this paper can be used as initial data for numerical evolutions with GRMHD codes to study their stability properties. Moreover, they can be employed as illuminating sources to build shadows of Kerr black holes with scalar hair which might help further constrain the no-hair hypothesis as new observational data is collected.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

De-singularizing the extremal GMGHS black hole via higher derivatives corrections

The Gibbons-Maeda-Garfinkle-Horowitz-Strominger (GMGHS) black hole is an influential solution of the low energy heterotic string theory. As it is well known, it presents a singular extremal limit. We construct a regular extension of the GMGHS extremal black hole in a model with $\mathcal{O}(α')$ corrections in the action, by solving the fully non-linear equations of motion. The de-singularization is supported by the $\mathcal{O}(α')$-terms. The regularised extremal GMGHS BHs are asymptotically flat, possess a regular (non-zero size) horizon of spherical topology, with an $AdS_2\times S^2$ near horizon geometry, and their entropy is proportional to the electric charge. The near horizon solution is obtained analytically and some illustrative bulk solutions are constructed numerically.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Embedding Gauss-Bonnet scalarization models in higher dimensional topological theories

In the presence of appropriate non-minimal couplings between a scalar field and the curvature squared Gauss-Bonnet (GB) term, compact objects such as neutron stars and black holes (BHs) can spontaneously scalarize, becoming a preferred vacuum. Such strong gravity phase transitions have attracted considerable attention recently. The non-minimal coupling functions that allow this mechanism are, however, always postulated ad hoc. Here we point out that families of such functions naturally emerge in the context of Higgs--Chern-Simons gravity models, which are found as dimensionally descents of higher dimensional, purely topological, Chern-Pontryagin non-Abelian densities. As a proof of concept, we study spherically symmetric scalarized BH solutions in a particular Einstein-GB-scalar field model, whose coupling is obtained from this construction, pointing out novel features and caveats thereof. The possibility of vectorization is also discussed, since this construction also originates vector fields non-minimally coupled to the GB invariant.

gr-qc↗