Caroline B. Owen
about
I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Physics Department at the University of Illinois. I work with Professor Nicolás Yunes at the Illinois Center for Advanced Studies of the Universe.
​
In my research, I use gravitational wave observations to understand new physics. I have studied the mathematical structures of black holes in modified theories of gravity and the impact of model inaccuracies on biases in parameters recovered from gravitational wave data. Currently, I am interested in using gravitational wave observations of compact binaries to study dark matter indirectly.
​
Pronouns: she/her
research
dark matter
While there is overwhelming evidence for the existence of dark matter in our Universe, we have yet to detect it directly. Neutron stars will collect dark matter as they move through galactic environments. Observations of the gravitational waves produced by neutron star binaries provide a novel way to deepen our understanding of dark matter through indirect detection. In my current work, I am using such observations to place constraints on dark matter effects.
data analysis
To extract physical parameters from gravitational wave data, we use waveforms that model the signals. These waveforms cannot be perfectly accurate, but this mis-modeling can lead to bias in parameter estimation. Many of the analytic models we use to perform data analysis are based on post-Newtonian formalism but these models are inherently approximate. I have studied the impact of post-Newtonian corrections in waveforms on biases in recovered intrinsic parameters.
modified gravity
General relativity is famously well-tested in weak gravity systems such as the solar system or binary pulsars. However, gravitational waves emitted during compact binary coalescence offer a unique way to observe strong gravity systems where we may find new physics. To use these observations to test general relativity, we first need to understand isolated black hole solutions in modified theories of gravity. To this end, I have studied the mathematical structure of spinning black holes solutions in quadratic gravity theories.
publications
Find my INSPIRE profile here.
​
Caroline B. Owen, Carl-Johan Haster, Scott Perkins, Neil J. Cornish, and Nicolás Yunes. Waveform accuracy and systematic uncertainties in current gravitational wave observations. Phys. Rev. D, 108(4):044018,2023
Caroline B. Owen, Nicolás Yunes, and Helvi Witek. Petrov type, principal null directions, and Killing tensors of slowly rotating black holes in quadratic gravity. Phys. Rev. D, 103(12):124057, 2021.
teaching
Graduate Teaching Assistant Positions
Graduate Particle Physics, University of Illinois
Undergraduate Electricity and Magnetism with Calculus, University of Illinois
Undergraduate Electricity and Magnetism with Algebra, University of Illinois
Honors Undergraduate Electricity and Magnetism with Calculus, Montana State University​
Undergraduate Electricity and Magnetism with Algebra, Montana State University​
​