Inference of the High Redshift properties of Binary Black Holes using Gravitational Waves

Menon, Shivangi (2025) Inference of the High Redshift properties of Binary Black Holes using Gravitational Waves. Masters thesis, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.

Text (MS Dissertation of Shivangi Menon (20MS170)) 20MS170_Thesis_file.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (6MB)

Abstract

The Stochastic Gravitational Wave Background (SGWB) is formed by collective gravitational wave (GW) emissions from a vast number of independent gravitational wave sources. Compact binary mergers, particularly coalescing binary black holes (BBHs) and binary neutron stars (BNSs), majorly contribute to this background. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has significantly expanded our knowledge of the early universe by directly observing galaxies at redshifts z>10,which was previously inaccessible to the Hubble Space Telescope. JWST has precisely determined the galaxy UV luminosity function and luminosity density, ⇢UV (z), at redshifts z ! 7. The decrease is slower than expected, indicating a more prolonged early production of UV photons. This challenges prior assumptions about star formation trends at high redshifts. While JWST primarily detects the most luminous galaxies, the number density of fainter, less massive stars remains uncertain. Theoretical models propose that a significant population of low-luminosity stars exists, which could have played a crucial role in shaping early star formation and compact object formation rates.

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