LIGO as a probe of Dark Sectors

Understand

We show how current LIGO data is able to probe interesting theories beyond the Standard Model, particularly Dark Sectors where a Dark Higgs triggers symmetry breaking via a first-order phase transition.

• We use publicly available LIGO O2 data to illustrate how these sectors, even if disconnected from the Standard Model, can be probed by Gravitational Wave detectors.
• We link the LIGO measurements with the model content and mass scale of the Dark Sector, finding that current O2 data is testing a broad set of scenarios where the breaking of $SU(N)$ theories with $N_f$ fermions is triggered by a Dark Higgs at scales $\Lambda \simeq 10^8 - 10^9$ GeV with reasonable parameters for the scalar potential.