Gravitational-wave data from observed binary black hole coalescences have been demonstrated in recent analyses to validate the Hawking area theorem (HAT) for black hole horizons. The result of such analyses is imposed here as a criterion of absolute consistency on the logarithmic (in horizon area) corrections to the Bekenstein-Hawking area formula for the black hole entropy, when these corrections are computed both from nonperturbative quantum fluctuations of spacetime in matter-free quantum general relativity, as well as arising due to perturbative quantum matter field fluctuations around a stationary classical black hole background spacetime. This criterion of absolute consistency is seen to be obeyed provided certain restrictions ensue on the spin-parity and number of species of the spectrum of quantum matter fluctuations. Such constraints appear to restrict the beyond-Standard-Model (BSM) part of the matter fluctuation spectrum. Some species of the constrained, yet-unobserved BSM particle spectrum are currently under active consideration in particle cosmology as candidates for dark matter.

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• Gravitational waves
• Quantum aspects of black holes