Theory-agnostic tests of general relativity with a new parametrized model for gravitational waves from eccentric, precessing binary black holes
Phys. Rev. D 114, 044004 – Published 3 August, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/b11s-s7bk
Abstract
Gravitational waves from binary black hole mergers allow us to test general relativity in the strong-field, high-curvature regime. However, existing gravitational waves-based tests for this have so far assumed noneccentric signal sources, limiting their range of applicability. In this work, we present pTEOBResumS, a new parametrized inspiral-merger-ringdown model for null tests of general relativity that incorporates both orbital eccentricity and spin precession, building on the effective-one-body model TEOBResumS-Dalí. We introduce parametrized deviations from general relativity both in the inspiral and the merger-ringdown regimes. We validate the model through parameter estimation of synthetic signals generated with the model itself or from numerical simulations, including of systems featuring physics beyond general relativity. We thus establish the model’s consistency, demonstrate its capability to identify effects beyond general relativity, and gauge the impact of eccentricity on the recovery of deviation parameters. We then analyze a set of binary black hole events from the first three LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA observing runs, under either the eccentric, spin-aligned or precessing, quasicircular hypotheses, searching for deviations from general relativity in the remnant black hole’s fundamental quasinormal mode. We find no statistically significant evidence for such deviations in any of the events. We combine single event results either by multiplying likelihoods, or via a hierarchical procedure, assuming an underlying normal distribution for the deviations. Consistent with previous works, we infer a mild preference for longer remnant quasinormal mode damping times than expected, although the limited event sample and potential systematics reduce the significance of this finding. We find no support for orbital eccentricity among the analyzed events, except for GW200129. An eccentric description is strongly favored for this event, although as previous works have noted this result could be influenced by data quality issues.
