Compact binaries as sources for ground-based gravitational-wave detectors

Document #:

LIGO-G0900506-v4

Document type:

G - Presentations (eg Graphics)

Abstract:

Within a decade, the advanced versions of the ground-based interferometric gravitational-wave detectors LIGO and Virgo will likely be able to make routine detections of mergers of stellar-mass compact object binaries (black holes and neutron stars). Already, the detectors are rapidly approaching a regime where upper limits can constrain the space of astrophysical models, thereby informing our knowledge of astrophysical parameters. In this talk, we review the difficult task of predictions of coalescence rates for binaries composed of neutron stars and stellar-mass black holes. We discuss the predictions of detection rates for inteferometers with the expected sensitivity of Initial, Enhanced and Advanced LIGO and the uncertainties in such predictions. We also mention some alternative compact-binary sources, such as intermediate-mass-ratio inspirals of compact objects into intermediate-mass black holes which may reside in globular clusters.

Files in Document:

• RatesAmaldi2009-Mandel.pdf (file is not accessible)

Topics:

• GW source predictions

Author Groups:

• LVC