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We show that binary black hole mergers with precessing evolution canpotentially excite photons from the quantum vacuum in such a way that totalhelicity is not preserved in the process. Helicity violation is allowed byquantum fluctuations that spoil the electric-magnetic duality symmetry of theclassical Maxwell theory without charges. We show here that precessing binaryblack hole systems in astrophysics generate a flux of circularly polarizedgravitational waves which, in turn, provides the required helical backgroundthat triggers this quantum effect. Solving the fully non-linear Einstein'sequations with numerical relativity we explore the parameter space of binarysystems and extract the detailed dependence of the quantum effect with thespins of the two black holes. We also introduce a set of diagrammatictechniques that allows us to predict when a binary black hole merger can orcannot emit circularly polarized gravitational radiation, based onmirror-symmetry considerations. This framework allows to understand and tointerpret correctly the numerical results, and to predict the outcomes inpotentially interesting astrophysical systems.

Precessing binary black holes as engines of electromagnetic helicity