QFT Approach to the Dynamics and Radiation of Binary Black Holes

An Institute of Advanced Studies Masterclass, presented by Professor Thibault Damour. This will be a colloquium-style introduction to the current effort to apply QFT-based ideas and techniques to the study of the dynamics and gravitational radiation of binary black holes. The session will also include discussion on how the Effective One-Body formalism allows one to use the results of this approach to improve the construction of gravitational wave templates, and to compare them to Numerical Relativity simulations. Professor Thibault Damour is a world leading theoretical physicist and a member of the French Académie des Sciences. His work spans general relativity, relativistic astrophysics, cosmology and string theory, including black holes, binary pulsars, experimental tests of gravity, and the relativistic two-body problem. His work on the motion and radiation of binary black holes was key to the detection and interpretation of gravitational waves by LIGO and Virgo. His many distinctions include the Einstein Medal, the CNRS Gold Medal, the Dirac Medal, the Galileo Galilei Medal and the Balzan Prize. Professor Thibault Damour's visit is supported by a UWA Gledden Mobility Grant. The Robert and Maude Gledden Mobility Grants are part of the estate bequeathed to the University by the late Robert John Gledden to promote and encourage education and research at the University in the disciplines of applied science, engineering, mining or cognate subjects.