Western Kentucky University
Department of Physics and Astronomy

Colloquium

Dr. Tamara Bogdanovic

School of Physics
Georgia Institute of Technology

"Bringing gravity to light with multi-messenger massive black hole binaries"

March 30, 2026 @ 4 in KTH 2038 (Zoom ID: 93595838321)

About the Speaker

https://physics.gatech.edu/user/tamara-bogdanovi%C4%87

Abstract

Massive black hole binaries (MBHBs) are a product of galaxy mergers and progenitors of coalescing binaries, and are considered to be the prime sources for future gravitational wave (GW) detectors. Expectations for the detection of gravitational radiation from MBHBs have recently been raised by the detection of the gravitational wave background by the Pulsar Timing Arrays consistent with massive binaries, and by the selection of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) for a large-class mission in the European Space Agency science program. In light of these developments, the rates at which MBHBs form and evolve to coalescence remain important open questions in black hole astrophysics. I will discuss how theoretical modeling helps us address these questions and prepare for the upcoming multi-messenger detections of merging binaries with LISA and contemporary electromagnetic observatories.