Dynamical scalarization in Schwarzschild binary inspirals

Understand

We show that Schwarzschild black hole binaries can undergo dynamical scalarization (DS) in the inspiral phase, in a subclass of $\mathbb{Z}_2$-symmetric Einstein-scalar-Gauss-Bonnet (ESGB) theories of gravity.

• The mechanism is analogous to neutron star DS in scalar-tensor gravity, and it differs from the late merger and ringdown black hole (de)scalarization found in recent ESGB studies.
• To our knowledge, the new parameter space we highlight was unexplored in numerical relativity simulations.
• We also estimate the orbital separation at the DS onset, and characterize the subsequent scalar hair growth at the adiabatic approximation.