arXiv subjects

Jann Zosso

Publications and source records attributed to Jann Zosso.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Low-Frequency Gravitational Bremsstrahlung and Memory in a Medium

Gravitational radiation from the early Universe offers a powerful window into physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). In this paper, we investigate the low-frequency tail of gravitational radiation produced by the decay of massive particles. The energy spectrum in Minkowski space-time, $dE/d\omega$, exhibits two distinct regimes: a flat bremsstrahlung/memory spectrum above a characteristic cutoff frequency and a suppressed quadratic frequency scaling below it. The typical rate of momentum change of the decay products determines the cutoff frequency. We calculate $dE/d\omega$ in two independent but equivalent ways: using Weinberg's soft graviton theorem and by solving the equations of motion. This further establishes the connection between Weinberg's soft graviton theorem and the gravitational memory formula, which we generalize to incorporate the effects of final-state scattering. We then compute the cosmological stochastic gravitational energy spectrum $h^2\Omega_{\rm h}$ generated by many particle decays in the early Universe. We demonstrate that $h^2\Omega_{\rm h}$ exhibits linear scaling with frequency above the cutoff frequency, transitioning to cubic scaling below it. Our findings reveal a suppression of the low-frequency signal compared to a naive linear extrapolation, with implications for detection prospects. Our results also reveal the connection between bremsstrahlung and memory in the context of cosmological stochastic gravitational energy spectra from the early Universe.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2026

Scalar memory from compact binary coalescences

Gravitational memory provides a distinctive low-frequency probe of gravity, but explicit merger studies beyond general relativity remain limited. In this letter, we investigate memory from binary black hole mergers in Ricci-coupled scalar-Gauss-Bonnet gravity, a natural extension of scalar-Gauss-Bonnet theory that admits an additional scalar breathing polarization. Based on numerical-relativity waveforms of binary black hole coalescences, we show that the change in the scalar charge of the system across merger generates a significant scalar-memory contribution. For a GW150914-like system, this effect modifies the memory signal in a gravitational-wave detector on the same observable timescale and by an amount comparable to the pure scalar-Gauss-Bonnet correction to tensor memory. Thus, it can substantially enhance the total deviation from the general-relativity prediction over a broad range of source and detector configurations. We argue that this identifies a general mechanism: whenever a compact-binary merger changes the asymptotic charge of an additional gravitational field, and that field sources an observable extra polarization, the resulting memory can provide a leading low-frequency signature of new gravitational physics.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Gravitational Memory from Hairy Binary Black Hole Mergers

Gravitational-wave memory is a low-frequency, non-oscillatory component of the radiation field that provides a potentially powerful but as yet undetected probe of strong-field gravity. We present the first calculation of gravitational memory from full inspiral--merger--ringdown waveforms in a theory beyond general relativity, focusing on scalar-Gauss-Bonnet gravity as a theoretically well-motivated and numerically accessible extension of GR. Starting from the general memory formulas in Horndeski gravity, we derive explicit spin-weighted spherical-harmonic expressions for the tensor null memory in scalar-Gauss-Bonnet theory and evaluate them on existing numerical-relativity waveforms for both shift-symmetric and dynamically scalarizing binary black hole mergers. We find that the dominant effect is an indirect modification of the tensor memory through changes in the nonlinear merger dynamics, while the direct scalar contribution to the tensor memory remains suppressed by orders of magnitude for the systems considered in this work. For the largest deviations in our dataset, the final memory amplitude differs from the corresponding GR prediction by a few percent and by up to $\sim 4\%$ when compared to the GR template that minimizes the waveform mismatch in a detector-oriented analysis. We further show that including memory increases the mismatch between GR and scalar-Gauss-Bonnet waveforms by more than an order of magnitude, indicating that memory can provide complementary information for testing gravity with third-generation detectors, especially for low-mass binaries.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Testing gravitational wave polarizations with LISA

In this paper we quantify the ability of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) to test the presence of non-tensorial polarizations as well as modifications to the tensor ones in gravitational waves emitted from massive black hole binaries. We employ the Parametrized Post-Einsteinian (PPE) formalism to model deviations from General Relativity (GR) for tensor, vector, and scalar polarizations. Our PPE parametrization is inspired by post-Newtonian waveforms from four modified gravity theories: Horndeski, Einstein-aether, Rosen's bimetric, and Lightman-Lee. We consistently implement these modifications across the inspiral, merger, and ringdown phases, ensuring proper waveform alignment and tapering. Subsequently, we perform Fisher forecasts to derive expected constraints on deviations from General Relativity and map these constraints to the parameter spaces of the four gravity theories. For tensor polarizations, LISA achieves constraints on amplitude modifications ranging between $\sim 10^{-4}-10^{-2}$ precision level, depending on the frequency evolution of the modifications, for systems with $10^5-10^7 {\, \rm M}_\odot$ at $z = 1$. We find that LISA can distinguish breathing and longitudinal scalar polarizations only for relatively light binaries with $M \lesssim 10^4 {\, \rm M}_\odot$, beyond which these modes become degenerate in the detector response. Importantly, constraints on vector polarizations are approximately 2-3 times more precise than for scalar polarizations. For both vector and scalar modes, amplitude measurements reach precisions ranging between $\sim 10^{-8}-10^{-2}$, depending on the frequency evolution of the modifications, for systems with $10^5-10^7 {\, \rm M}_\odot$ at $z = 1$. These results demonstrate LISA's potential to probe gravity in the strong-field regime via gravitational wave polarizations.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2026

Toward claiming a detection of gravitational memory

Gravitational memory is a zero-frequency effect associated with a permanent change in the asymptotic spacetime metric induced by radiation. Although its universal manifestation is a net change in the proper distances between freely falling test masses, gravitational wave detectors are intrinsically insensitive to the final offset and can only probe the transition. A central challenge for any detection claim is therefore to define a physically meaningful and operationally robust model of the time-dependent signal that is uniquely attributable to gravitational memory and distinguishable from purely oscillatory radiation. We show that while the Bondi-van der Burg-Metzner-Sachs balance laws rigorously establish the total memory offset, a robust definition of the observable memory rise requires an additional physical input: a separation of scales between high-frequency gravitational waves and the lower-frequency buildup of memory. We formulate this separation using the Isaacson description of gravitational wave energy momentum. Motivated by this observation, we develop a theoretical framework for defining and modeling the time-dependent memory rise, building on a self-contained review of gravitational memory and focusing on compact binary coalescences. Specializing to space-based detectors, we analyze the LISA response to gravitational radiation including memory, with emphasis on mergers of supermassive black hole binaries, which offer the most promising prospects for a first single-event detection. The framework provides the theoretical foundation for statistically well-defined hypothesis testing between memory-free and memory-full radiation and enables quantitative assessments of detection prospects. These results establish a principled pathway toward a future observational claim of gravitational memory.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Detectability of Gravitational-Wave Memory with LISA: A Bayesian Approach

Gravitational wave (GW) astronomy opens a new venue to explore the universe. Future observatories such as LISA, the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, are expected to observe previously undetectable fundamental physics effects in signals predicted by General Relativity (GR).One particularly interesting such signal is associated to the displacement memory effect, which corresponds to a permanent deformation of spacetime due to the passage of gravitational radiation. In this work, we explore the ability of LISA to observe and characterize this effect. In order to do this, we use state-of-the-art simulations of the LISA instrument, and we perform a Bayesian analysis to assess the detectability and establish general conditions to claim detection of the displacement memory effect from individual massive black hole binary (MBHB) merger events in LISA. We perform parameter estimation both to explore the impact of the displacement memory effect and to reconstruct its amplitude. We discuss the precision at which such a reconstruction can be obtained thus opening the way to tests of GR and alternative theories. To provide astrophysical context, we apply our analysis to black hole binary populations models and estimate the rates at which the displacement memory effect could be observed within the LISA planned lifetime.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Balance flux laws beyond general relativity

Balance flux laws of asymptotic symmetries in general relativity provide fully non-perturbative constraint equations on gravitational strain. They have proven useful for constructing numerical gravitational waveforms and for characterizing gravitational memory. As the precision of current and future detectors continues to improve, such constraints become increasingly important for high-precision tests of gravity, including searches for deviations from general relativity. This motivates a systematic understanding of analogous balance laws in theories beyond general relativity. In this work, we investigate the existence and structure of flux laws at null infinity in diffeomorphism-invariant extensions of general relativity. Our analysis is based on the covariant phase space formalism and the definition of conserved quantities, as presented by Wald and Zoupas. For a particularly relevant class of Horndeski theories, we derive a general expression for the flux and formulate the corresponding balance equation via the associated non-conserved charges. We cross-check our general results by comparing them with previous studies of Brans-Dicke gravity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the employed methods extend straightforwardly to a broader class of diffeomorphism-invariant theories. The null part of the resulting flux laws associated with null memory is compared with and validated against the alternative derivation based on the Isaacson approach to gravitational radiation. Beyond the specific results obtained, this work is intended to serve as a practical guide for computing balance laws in generic diffeomorphism-invariant theories of gravity and paves the way for an in-depth comparison between the Isaacson approach and the covariant phase space formalism.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2025

Gravitational Memory in Generalized Proca Gravity

We investigate the gravitational memory effect in the full Generalized Proca gravity, the most general metric theory including a gravitational Proca field with derivative self-interactions that still maintains second-order equations of motion. Building on our previous works on memory in other massless and massive metric theories, we extend a unified framework for computing displacement memory and apply it to Generalized Proca gravity. We identify two non-trivial physically distinct classes of background conditions of Generalized Proca theory within the assumption of asymptotic flatness: a Lorentz-invariant but massive case, and a Lorentz-violating, massless case. The former exhibits dispersive scalar and vector modes and allows a Horndeski-like treatment of memory, while the latter resembles the asymptotic dynamics of Einstein-{\AE}ther theory including the same Lorentz-breaking effects on displacement memory. In both cases, we derive the fully gauge invariant and dynamical second order action, derive the effective stress-energy tensor and study its contribution to the memory integral. We highlight the distinction between phase and group velocity in the tensor memory formula sourced by dispersive propagating modes. Finally, we re-emphasize how observational constraints on Lorentz violation may be imposed by the structure of the memory signal.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2025

Enhancement of Electromagnetic Memory Effects

We show that the amplitude of electromagnetic memory can be significantly enhanced in comparison to known estimates. In a Lorentz breaking phase of lowered phase velocity of light, there exist critical spacetime directions of memory-source emission along the effective light cone, about which the total memory offset receives order of magnitude increases. The same amplification is already present in the Lorentz preserving case by considering ultra-relativistic memory-source charges. These observations may pave the way for a first observation of the phenomenon of memory and laboratory tests of the concepts of asymptotic symmetries and soft theorems.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2025

Continuing Isaacson's Legacy: A general metric theory perspective on gravitational memory and the non-linearity of gravity

The challenge of defining a physical notion of gravitational waves, together with the associated dynamical degrees of freedom of a gravity theory, is a long-standing problem that famously lead to the discovery the Bondi-Metzner-Sachs (BMS) spacetime symmetry at null infinity and its connection to gravitational memory. Here, we show that the second major contribution to an understanding of waves in gravitation, attributed to the work of Isaacson, equally leads to the inevitable presence of displacement memory, and provides additional understanding of the phenomenon. In particular, the Isaacson viewpoint allows for an efficient method to compute gravitational displacement memory in general metric theories of gravity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2025

Constraining superluminal Einstein-\AE{}ther gravity through gravitational memory

Every emission of radiation in gravity also includes a nonwavelike component that leaves a permanent change in proper distances of the spacetime it travels through. This phenomenon is known as gravitational displacement memory. Building up on a recently developed computation framework that harnesses Isaacson's insights on a fundamental definition of gravitational waves, we compute the leading displacement memory formula in Einstein-Aether gravity. Our analysis represents the first direct calculation of gravitational memory in a metric theory with nontrivial asymptotic vector field value. We find that an emission of scalar and vector aether waves at a propagation speed greater than the speed of tensor radiation features unprotected causal directions with a priori unbound memory build-up. Based on the results and the existing constraint of luminally propagating tensor waves, we conjecture a stringent exclusion of the superluminal parameter space of Einstein-Aether gravity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

Probing Gravity -- Fundamental Aspects of Metric Theories and their Implications for Tests of General Relativity

Guided by the Einstein equivalence principle that identifies the phenomenon of gravitation as a manifestation of the dynamics of spacetime in contrast to a localizable force, we review and explore its consequences on formulating a theory of gravity. The resulting space of metric theories of gravity may address open conceptual and observational puzzles through a wealth of effects beyond general relativity, whose traces can be searched for within today's and tomorrow's gravitational testing grounds. Above all, we offer a generic metric theory generalization of Isaacson's approach to the leading-order field equations of physical perturbations with a well-defined notion of energy-momentum carried by the gravitational waves. Within this framework, we identify the backreaction of the Isaacson energy-momentum flux onto the background spacetime with the displacement memory effect that induces a permanent distortion of space after the passage of a gravitational wave. This effect is a well-known prediction of GR whose dominant contribution captures its inherent non-linear nature, manifest in the ability of gravity to gravitate. However, the novel interpretation of memory as naturally arising within the Isaacson approach to gravitational waves comes with two main advantages. Firstly, it allows for a unified understanding of both the null and the ordinary memory effect, which are respectively sourced by unbound energy fluxes that do and do not reach asymptotic null infinity. Secondly, and most importantly, this approach allows for a consistent derivation of the memory formula for a large class of metric theories with considerable lessons to be learned for upcoming future measurements of the memory effect.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

Measuring gravitational wave memory with LISA

Gravitational wave (GW) astronomy has revolutionized our capacity to explore nature. The next generation of observatories, among which the space-borne detector Laser Interferometer Space Antenna LISA, is expected to yield orders of magnitude of signal-to-noise ratio improvement, and reach fainter and novel features of General Relativity. Among them, an exciting possibility is the detection of GW memory. Interpreted as a permanent deformation of the background spacetime after a GW perturbation has passed through the detector, GW memory offers a novel avenue to proof-test General Relativity, access the non-linear nature of gravity, and provide complementary information to better characterize the GW source. Previous studies have shown that GW memory detection from individual mergers of massive black hole binaries is expected with LISA. However, these works have not simulated the proper time domain response of the detector to the GW memory. This work is filling this gap and presents the detection prospects of LISA regarding GW memory and the expected signature of GW memory on the data-streams using the most up-to-date LISA consortium simulations of the response. We focus on the GW memory of massive black hole binary mergers and use state-of-the-art population models to assess the likelihood of detecting the GW memory within the LISA lifetime. We conclude that GW memory will be a key feature of several events detected by LISA, and will help to exploit the scientific potential of the mission fully.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

Testing gravitational waveforms in full General Relativity

We perform a comprehensive analysis of state-of-the-art waveform models, focusing on their predictions concerning kick velocity and inferred gravitational wave memory. In our investigation we assess the accuracy of waveform models using energy-momentum balance laws, which were derived in the framework of full, non-linear General Relativity. The numerical accuracy assessment is performed for precessing as well as non-precessing scenarios for models belonging to the \textit{EOB}, \textit{Phenom}, and \textit{Surrogate} families. We analyze the deviations of these models from each other and from Numerical Relativity waveforms. Our analysis reveals statistically significant deviations, which we trace back to inaccuracies in modelling subdominant modes and inherent systematic errors in the chosen models. We corroborate our findings through analytical considerations regarding the mixing of harmonic modes in the computed kick velocities and inferred memories.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

Unifying Ordinary and Null Memory

Based on a recently proposed reinterpretation of gravitational wave memory that builds up on the definition of gravitational waves pioneered by Isaacson, we provide a unifying framework to derive both ordinary and null memory from a single well-defined equation at leading order in the asymptotic expansion. This allows us to formulate a memory equation that is valid for any unbound asymptotic energy-flux that preserves local Lorentz invariance. Using Horndeski gravity as a concrete example metric theory with an additional potentially massive scalar degree of freedom in the gravitational sector, the general memory formula is put into practice by presenting the first account of the memory correction sourced by the emission of massive field waves. Throughout the work, physical degrees of freedom are identified by constructing manifestly gauge invariant perturbation variables within an SVT decomposition on top of the asymptotic Minkowski background, which will in particular prove useful in future studies of gravitational wave memory within vector tensor theories.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Gravitational wave memory beyond general relativity

Gravitational wave memory is a nonoscillatory correction to the gravitational wave strain predicted by general relativity, which has yet to be detected. Within general relativity, its dominant component, known as the null memory, can be understood as arising from the backreaction of the energy carried by gravitational waves, and therefore it corresponds to a direct manifestation of the nonlinearity of the theory. In this paper, we investigate the null-memory prediction in a broad class of modified gravity theories, with the aim of exploring potential lessons to be learned from future measurements of the memory effect. Based on Isaacson's approach to the leading-order field equations, we in particular compute the null memory for the most general scalar-vector-tensor theory with second-order equations of motion and vanishing field potentials. We find that the functional form of the null memory is only modified through the potential presence of additional radiative null energy sources in the theory. We subsequently generalize this result by proving a theorem that states that the simple structure of the tensor null-memory equation remains unaltered in any metric theory whose massless gravitational fields satisfy decoupled wave equations to first order in perturbation theory, which encompasses a large class of viable extensions to general relativity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Can late-time extensions solve the $H_0$ and $σ_8$ tensions?

We analyze the properties that any late-time modification of the $Λ$CDM expansion history must have in order to consistently solve both the $H_0$ and the $σ_8$ tensions. Taking a model-independent approach, we obtain a set of necessary conditions that can be applied to generic late-time extensions. Our results are fully analytical and merely based on the assumptions that the deviations from the $Λ$CDM background remain small. For the concrete case of a dark energy fluid with equation of state $w(z)$, we derive the following general requirements: (i) Solving the $H_0$ tension demands $w(z)<-1$ at some $z$ (ii) Solving both the $H_0$ and $σ_8$ tensions requires $w(z)$ to cross the phantom divide. Finally, we also allow for small deviations on the effective gravitational constant. In this case, our method is still able to constrain the functional form of these deviations.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2022

Simultaneously solving the $H_0$ and $σ_8$ tensions with late dark energy

In a model independent approach, we derive generic conditions that any late time modification of the $Λ$CDM expansion history must satisfy in order to consistently solve both the $H_0$ and the $σ_8$ tensions. Our results are fully analytical and the method is merely based on the assumption that the late-time deviations from $Λ$CDM remain small. For the concrete case of a dark energy fluid with deviations encoded in the expansion history and the gravitational coupling constant, we present necessary conditions on its equation of state. Solving both the $H_0$ and $σ_8$ tensions requires that $w(z)$ must cross the phantom divide if $G_\text{eff}=G$. On the other hand, for $G_\text{eff}=G+δG(z)$ and $w(z)\leq -1$, it is required that $\displaystyle \frac{δG(z)}{G}<α(z)\frac{δH(z)}{H(z)}<0$ at some redshift $z$.

astro-ph.CO↗