Probing compact objects with gravitational waves from binary inspirals

ABSTRACT:

Gravitational waves from merging binary systems carry unique information about the nature and internal structure of compact objects through signatures of tidal effects during the inspiral, for instance. Extracting this information requires accurate theoretical models for the interplay of matter with strong-field gravity. I will discuss examples of recent progress in understanding relativistic tidal phenomena and their effects in gravitational waves and conclude with an outlook onto the remaining challenges and exciting prospects for the next years, as gravitational-wave science continues to move towards an era of precision physics.