Discovering Continuous GW with Nuclear, Astro and Particle Physics
November 18 - 22, 2024
M. Baryakhtar, C. Horowitz, C. Miller, M. Alessandra Papa
The opening of the gravitational wave (GW) sky is an historic time. The LIGO-Virgo-Kagra collaboration has detected transient signals from merging black holes and neutron stars. This program focused on the detection of a different class of signals: continuous GWs, which can originate from rotating neutron stars or new physics. A very positive aspect of the week was the strong interactions between nuclear physicists, astrophysicists, particle physicists, and GW scientists. These groups brought very different perspectives to the problem of discovering continuous wave signals. The significant challenges and many of the search strategies for the discovery of very weak continuous signals were presented. Detailed understanding of neutron star physics, modeling, and uncertainties were discussed. New physics signals included superradiance around rotating black holes, subsolar mass primordial black holes, and direct interaction of dark matter with GW detectors. Participants found the workshop clearly focused on discovering new signals and the possible physics payoffs; we are all ready to usher in the age of continuous gravitational waves.