Gravitational-wave observations provide a unique probe of general relativity (GR) in the strong-field regime. I will present the subdominant-mode amplitude (SMA) test, that searches for deviations from GR by independently varying the amplitudes of higher-order modes in binary black-hole signals while keeping the dominant quadrupole fixed. I will discuss its validation against Gaussian noise and waveform systematics due to incorrectly modeling spin-precession and not accounting for orbital eccentricity, as well as its response to simulated non-GR amplitude and phase modifications. Applied to recent observations, the test yields stringent constraints on higher-mode amplitudes, including the strongest constraint to date on the (4,4)-mode amplitude deviation. Finally, I will discuss how relative binning can accelerate Bayesian parameterized tests of GR by factors of O(10)--O(100), making systematic studies increasingly tractable for current and next-generation gravitational-wave detectors.
Zoom Meeting: https://icts-res-in.zoom.us/j/96781493797?pwd=r9GD7NnmEWMDFNt0Mq5fhaQpxmNXjo.1
Meeting ID: 967 8149 3797
Passcode: 671997