Tests of Strong-Field General Relativity
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In contrast to gravity in the weak-field regime, which has been subjected to numerous experimental tests, gravity in the strong-field regime is largely unconstrained by experiments. A large class of gravity theories can be constructed that obey the Einstein equivalence principle and cannot be rejected by solar system tests, but that diverge from general relativity in the strong-field regime. Our aim is to design new tests of general relativity that are specific to its strong-field behavior. |
Dark Energy and Modified Gravity in Cosmology
| The accelerated expansion of the universe and the large amount of dark matter present in all cosmological scales represent two of the most intriguing questions in modern astrophysics. Our goal is to explore the possibility that what we traditionally call dark energy or dark matter are manifestations of a modification to Einstein's theory of general relativity. |
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Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence in Shearing Flows
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Differentially rotating magnetohydrodynamic flows exhibit a number of instabilities. Some of these are believed to be responsible for generating and sustaining turbulence that allows black holes to accrete matter at high rates and become powerful X-ray sources in the sky. We are studying the onset and the outcome of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, using analytical and numerical tools. |
