Zhen Zhong

Simulations show that a cloud of dark matter around two stars takes the shape of a molecule. The elongated orbits of the stars knock particles out of the cloud, causing their trajectories to round out. This process could leave a noticeable imprint in the gravitational-wave background, helping to rev

A covariant approach has been developed, showing that light in the gravitational "storm" of merging black holes alters its polarization, tracing the damped melody of the ringdown. Numerical simulations based on Kerr perturbation theory confirm: an achromatic rotation of ~10 degrees is a direct impri