Constraining the topological Gauss-Bonnet coupling from GW150914

Abstract

Recent gravitational wave observation based on the data from GW150914 has confirmed Hawking's area theorem and estimated the increase in total horizon area during a merger process of two Kerr black holes. We use this result and the validity of the second law to obtain the first observational bound on the 4D topological Gauss-Bonnet coupling as $\gamma \lesssim 2.804^{+7.946}_{-1.169} \times 10^{9}\, m^2$ with $95 \%$ credibility.