Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog: Insights and Challenges

This lecture delves into the Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog 2, exploring compact binary coalescences from the third Observing Run. It covers significant events like GW190521 and GW190521_030229, highlighting the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics. Theoretical predictions, waveforms, and the discovery of black holes are discussed, emphasizing the need for more accurate waveform models. The lecture also touches on the challenges in distinguishing between compact bodies and the potential of probing ultralight bosons with binary black holes. It concludes with a discussion on the discovery potential and the importance of precise theoretical predictions in the field of gravitational physics.