PhD Studentship: Gravitational Wave Source Modelling From LIGO to LISA

Theoretical models for gravitational wave signals emitted by coalescing compact binaries are the cornerstone of modern gravitational wave astrophysics. Among the most pressing challenges for the next generation of models is the detailed treatment of spin precession and orbital eccentricity. These effects encode critical information about compact binary formation channels and evolutionary pathways, whilst their omission can introduce significant systematic biases in parameter estimation, detection pipelines, and tests of fundamental physics.

In this PhD project, you will develop a comprehensive framework for modelling gravitational wave signals from precessing eccentric compact binaries across the full detector landscape, from ground-based instruments such as LIGO and Virgo through to the space-based LISA observatory. The research will advance post-Newtonian waveform modelling through improved analytical techniques, incorporate strong-field information from numerical relativity simulations, and explore optimisation strategies for deploying these models in modern data analysis pipelines. You will have the opportunity to join the LIGO Scientific Collaboration as well as the team developing the scientific tools for LISA, a flagship European Space Agency mission.

Key objectives include incorporating higher-order post-Newtonian corrections, higher-order harmonics, and mode asymmetries, whilst exploring extensions to the merger-ringdown phase. The developed models will be validated against numerical relativity simulations and applied to real gravitational wave observations to constrain astrophysical formation scenarios and test fundamental physics. This work will provide essential tools for extracting science from current observing runs and preparing for next-generation gravitational wave detectors.

The PhD Student will be given the opportunity to work directly with gravitational-wave data and to play a role in the gravitational-wave discoveries made by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration.

For more information, please see: https://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/phd/index.php

Funding Notes

The project is Research Council funded (STFC) and only covers tuition fees for UK students plus the usual stipend. The position is open to international students provided the tuition fee difference is covered by the student.

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