Black Holes and Gravitational Waves as Probes of New Physics

The past decade has witnessed a revolution in gravitational-wave (GW) astronomy. Since the first GW detection by LIGO and Virgo a decade ago, observations of black hole and neutron star mergers have become routine, offering new ways to test general relativity and explore extreme astrophysical environments. But these discoveries may just be the beginning.

As we look ahead, a new generation of GW detectors, both ground-based and spaceborne, promises dramatic improvements in sensitivity and event rates, opening doors to deeper insights into fundamental physics. In this colloquium, I will explore an exciting frontier at the intersection of gravitational-wave science and particle physics: the use of black holes and GWs to search for ultra-light bosonic particles beyond the Standard Model.

I will outline the basic physical mechanisms that make this possible and highlight recent theoretical and observational developments. This emerging synergy between astrophysics and particle physics may provide a unique window into the dark sectors of our universe.