Black-hole binaries and waveforms in Quadratic Gravity

We report on the first numerical-relativity simulations of black-hole binaries that deviate from General Relativity due to quadratic-curvature corrections. Said theory of Quadratic Gravity propagates additional massive modes and admits both Kerr and non-Kerr black-hole solutions. We chose the respective masses “at threshold”, i.e., such that (at least) one of the black holes dynamically transitions from the Kerr to the non-Kerr branch during the early inspiral. The subsequent waveforms differ from their General Relativity counterparts throughout inspiral, merger, and ringdown.