Constraining the topological Gauss-Bonnet coupling from GW150914

Abstract

Recent gravitational wave observation based on the data from GW150914 has confirmed Hawking's area theorem and estimated the increase in total horizon area during a merger process of two Kerr black holes. We use this result and the validity of the second law to obtain the first observational bound on the 4D topological Gauss-Bonnet coupling as $\gamma \lesssim 2.804_{-1.169}^{+7.946}\times 10^9{m}^2$ with $95\%$ credibility.

Title and figure changed, table added. Manuscript has been modified to match the published version in Physical Review D as a Letter. Main results of the paper remains the same, although presentation has improved

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• Lorentzian Robin Universe of Gauss-Bonnet Gravity
• Mergers of hairy black holes: Constraining topological couplings from entropy
• Motion of test particles around an Einstein-dilaton-Gauss-Bonnet black hole in a uniform magnetic field
• Resolving Degeneracies in Complex $\mathbb{R}\times S^3$ and $\theta$-KSW