Scalar wave dark matter imprints on binary black hole mergers: dependence on field mass and density
Abstract
Dark matter environments can modify binary black hole mergers and imprint their gravitational-wave signals. We perform numerical-relativity simulations of nonspinning binary black holes immersed in complex scalar-field clouds, considering mass ratios q=1,2,3, and $4$ and varying both the dimensionless scalar-field mass m̂Φ=mΦM0 and initial amplitude Π0, which controls the density. Our initial data keep the scalar energy-density profile and binary geometry unchanged when varying m̂Φ at fixed Π0, allowing the dynamical effect of the field mass to be isolated. We find that the scalar environment generally accelerates the merger and significantly modifies the gravitational-wave signal. For unequal-mass binaries, differential scalar-field accretion changes the horizon-mass ratio during inspiral, weakly at low density but substantially at high density, thereby increasing the binary asymmetry before merger. Dense scalar environments suppress the energy and angular momentum carried by gravitational waves. Lighter scalar fields propagate more efficiently to large radii, whereas heavier fields remain more localized and show stronger inward energy transport. Scalar angular-momentum transport is more complex, showing nonmonotonic behavior and even direction reversal near the binary. For unequal-mass systems, gravitational and scalar radiation both carry net linear momentum, and their relative orientation determines whether the recoil is enhanced or suppressed. The largest kick is 2063.6 km,s−1 for q=2, m̂Φ=0, and Π0=0.0100, compared with 137.8 km,s−1 in vacuum. These results show that the scalar-field mass and density jointly control the binary asymmetry, dynamics, radiative channels, and momentum balance.
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BibTeX
@misc{zhang2026scalar,
title = {{Scalar wave dark matter imprints on binary black hole mergers: dependence on field mass and density}},
author = {Yu-Peng Zhang and Shao-Wen Wei and Yu-Xiao Liu},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2610.15053},
eprint = {2610.15053},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.15053},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Scalar wave dark matter imprints on binary black hole mergers: dependence on field mass and density
AU - Yu-Peng Zhang
AU - Shao-Wen Wei
AU - Yu-Xiao Liu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/10
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2610.15053
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.15053
AB - Dark matter environments can modify binary black hole mergers and imprint their gravitational-wave signals. We perform numerical-relativity simulations of nonspinning binary black holes immersed in complex scalar-field clouds, considering mass ratios q=1,2,3, and $4$ and varying both the dimensionless scalar-field mass m̂_Φ=m_ΦM_0 and initial amplitude Π_0, which controls the density. Our initial data keep the scalar energy-density profile and binary geometry unchanged when varying m̂_Φ at fixed Π_0, allowing the dynamical effect of the field mass to be isolated. We find that the scalar environment generally accelerates the merger and significantly modifies the gravitational-wave signal. For unequal-mass binaries, differential scalar-field accretion changes the horizon-mass ratio during inspiral, weakly at low density but substantially at high density, thereby increasing the binary asymmetry before merger. Dense scalar environments suppress the energy and angular momentum carried by gravitational waves. Lighter scalar fields propagate more efficiently to large radii, whereas heavier fields remain more localized and show stronger inward energy transport. Scalar angular-momentum transport is more complex, showing nonmonotonic behavior and even direction reversal near the binary. For unequal-mass systems, gravitational and scalar radiation both carry net linear momentum, and their relative orientation determines whether the recoil is enhanced or suppressed. The largest kick is 2063.6 km,s^−1 for q=2, m̂_Φ=0, and Π_0=0.0100, compared with 137.8 km,s^−1 in vacuum. These results show that the scalar-field mass and density jointly control the binary asymmetry, dynamics, radiative channels, and momentum balance.
ER -