Scalar fields around black hole binaries in LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA
arXiv:2510.17967 · doi:10.1103/fv9z-zkxx
Abstract
Light scalar particles arise naturally in many extensions of the Standard Model and are compelling dark-matter candidates. Gravitational interactions near black holes can trigger the growth of dense scalar configurations that, if sustained during inspiral, alter binary dynamics and imprint signatures on gravitational-wave signals. Detecting such effects would provide a novel probe of fundamental physics and dark matter. Here we develop a semi-analytic waveform model for binaries in scalar environments, validate it against numerical relativity simulations, and apply it in a Bayesian analysis of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA catalog. We obtain physically meaningful upper limits on scalar densities around most compact binaries. For GW190728 and GW190814, vacuum lies outside the credible region. When including superradiance priors, GW190728 shows tentative evidence for a scalar environment with a Bayes factor of , consistent with a light scalar of mass .
Matches published version. A visualisation of our simulations and waveforms can be found at https://youtu.be/9yTvjDl9L9A
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