[
    {
        "id": "authors:z6dng-60z26",
        "collection": "authors",
        "collection_id": "z6dng-60z26",
        "cite_using_url": "https://authors.library.caltech.edu/records/z6dng-60z26",
        "type": "article",
        "title": "Pitching Cosmic Curveballs: Environmental Effects on Extreme-Mass-Ratio Inspirals with Spinning Secondaries",
        "author": [
            {
                "family_name": "Lui",
                "given_name": "Leif",
                "orcid": "0000-0003-0246-9681"
            },
            {
                "family_name": "Drummond",
                "given_name": "Lisa V.",
                "orcid": "0000-0002-8435-9955",
                "clpid": "Drummond-Lisa-V"
            },
            {
                "family_name": "Torres-Orjuela",
                "given_name": "Alejandro",
                "orcid": "0000-0002-5467-3505"
            }
        ],
        "abstract": "<p>Much like the aerodynamic deflection of a spinning curveball, a rotating secondary in an extreme-mass-ratio inspiral (EMRI) experiences Magnus and lift forces, in addition to the standard drag force, when traversing a gaseous environment. We present the first framework that incorporates these specific spin-coupled environmental effects (EEs) into the evolution of EMRI. Over the multiyear observation windows of space-based gravitational wave (GW) detectors, these interactions imprint a unique, distinguishable dephasing signature on the signal. Crucially, a Fisher matrix analysis reveals that gas drag breaks the fundamental vacuum-projection degeneracy between the secondary&rsquo;s spin magnitude and inclination, thereby tightening parameter constraints. Thus, accounting for EEs is not merely a modeling necessity, but could potentially be a powerful tool for enhancing the detectability of the secondary&rsquo;s intrinsic spin, and could serve as a novel probe of accretion flows harboring massive black holes.</p>",
        "doi": "10.1103/dy3h-65ty",
        "issn": "0031-9007",
        "publisher": "American Physical Society",
        "publication": "Physical Review Letters",
        "publication_date": "2026-09-16",
        "series_number": "12",
        "volume": "137",
        "issue": "12",
        "pages": "121403"
    }
]