Gravitational Waves from Extragalactic Inspiraling Binaries: Selection Effects and Expected Detection Rates

Details Gravitational Waves from Extragalactic Inspiraling Binaries: Selection Effects and Expected Detection Rates Gravitational Waves from Extragalactic Inspiraling Binaries: Selection Effects and Expected Detection Rates

2004-02-04

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0402091v2

Astrophys.J.612:364-374,2004

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

35 pages, including 12 figures. Revised following refereeing. Accepted for September publication in ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/422572

We examine the selection effects that determine how the population of inspiraling binary compact objects (BCOs) is reflected by those potentially observed with ground-based interferometers like LIGO. We lay the ground-work for the interpretation of future observations in terms of constraints on the real population and, correspondingly, binary star evolution models. To determine the extra-galactic population of inspiraling binaries we combine data on distance and blue luminosity from galaxy catalogs with current models of the galactic BCO mass distribution to simulate the physical distribution of binaries in the nearby universe. We use Monte Carlo methods to determine the fraction of binaries observable by the LIGO detectors from each galaxy as a function of the BCO chirp mass. We examine separately the role of source distance, sky position, time of detection, and binary system chirp mass on detection efficiency and selection effects relevant to the three LIGO detectors. Finally, we discuss the implications of the nearby geography of space on anticipated GW detection and compare our results to previous studies, which have assumed uniform galaxy volume density and fixed chirp mass for binary compact objects. From these considerations, actual BCO inspiral observations or significant upper limits on the coalescence rate anticipated in the near future by ground-based interferometers can be used to improve our knowledge of the galactic binary inspiral rate and to constrain models of radio pulsar characteristics and binary star evolution channels leading to neutron star or black hole binaries.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Gravitational Waves from Extragalactic Inspiraling Binaries: Selection Effects and Expected Detection Rates does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Gravitational Waves from Extragalactic Inspiraling Binaries: Selection Effects and Expected Detection Rates, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Gravitational Waves from Extragalactic Inspiraling Binaries: Selection Effects and Expected Detection Rates will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-564895