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Explore cutting-edge research on identifying the astrophysical origins of black hole mergers through gravitational wave analysis in this 59-minute astrophysics colloquium. Delve into the fundamental question of how and where black hole mergers form in the universe, examining why after a decade of gravitational wave science with LIGO/Virgo/Kagra detectors, the underlying formation channels remain unclear. Learn about innovative approaches to detect observable modulations in gravitational waveforms that could reveal the formation environment of individual gravitational wave sources. Discover how future observations of strongly lensed gravitational wave sources may provide unprecedented insights into source environments, including measurements of proper motion and line-of-sight acceleration that enable reconstruction of complete orbital trajectories. Gain understanding of the current challenges in gravitational wave astronomy and the promising methodologies being developed to trace individual black hole merger events back to their cosmic origins.
