Stars as resonant absorbers of gravitational waves

Understand

Quadrupole oscillation modes in stars can resonate with incident gravitational waves (GWs), and grow non-linear at the expense of GW energy.

• Stars near massive black hole binaries (MBHB) can act as GW-charged batteries, cooling radiatively.
• Mass-loss from these stars can prompt MBHB accretion at near-Eddington rates.
• GW opacity is independent of amplitude, so distant resonating stars can eclipse GW sources.