Why Are LIGO/Virgo Black Holes So Massive? - Understanding Mass Measurement in Gravitational Wave Astronomy

Explore a 25-minute scientific talk examining why LIGO and Virgo have detected unexpectedly massive black holes that were previously considered rare or impossible. Delve into the fundamental challenges of measuring gravitational wave source mass and distance, particularly focusing on how current waveform templates assume vacuum conditions despite astrophysical models suggesting proximity to supermassive black holes (SMBHs). Learn how nearby SMBHs can distort gravitational wave signals through strong gravitational lensing and Doppler shift effects, potentially impacting our understanding of black hole formation, evolution, and cosmic expansion measurements. Presented at the Workshop on "Lensing and Wave Optics in Strong Gravity" at the Erwin Schrödinger International Institute for Mathematics and Physics, this talk addresses critical considerations in gravitational wave astronomy and their implications for our understanding of the universe.