Mergers of gas-rich galaxies lead to black hole binaries that coalesce as a result of dynamical friction on the ambient gas. Once the binary tightens to <10^3 Schwarzschild radii, its merger is driven by the emission of gravitational waves (GWs). We show that this transition occurs generically at orbital periods of ~1-10 years and an orbital velocity V of a few thousand km/s, with a very weak dependence on the supply rate of gas (V proportional to Mdot^{1/8}). Therefore, as binaries enter their GW-dominated inspiral, they inevitably induce large periodic shifts in the broad emission lines of any associated quasar(s). The probability of finding a binary in tighter configurations scales as V^{-8} owing to their much shorter lifetimes. Systematic monitoring of the broad emission lines of quasars on timescales of months to decades can set a lower limit on the expected rate of GW sources for LISA.
We perform a parameter study of non-spinning, equal and unequal mass black hole binaries on generic, eccentric orbits in numerical relativity. The linear momentum considered ranges from that of a circular orbit to ten times that value. We discuss the different manifestations of zoom-whirl behavior in the hyperbolic and the elliptic regime. The hyperbolic data set applies to dynamical capture scenarios (e.g. in globular clusters). Evolutions in the elliptic regime correspond to possible end states of supermassive black hole binaries. We spot zoom-whirl behavior for eccentricities as low as $e\s…
We present the first analytical inspiral-merger-ringdown gravitational waveforms from binary black holes (BBHs) with non-precessing spins, that is based on a description of the late-inspiral, merger and ringdown in full general relativity. By matching a post-Newtonian description of the inspiral to a set of numerical-relativity simulations, we obtain a waveform family with a conveniently small number of physical parameters. These waveforms will allow us to detect a larger parameter space of BBH coalescence, including a considerable fraction of precessing binaries in the comparable-mass regime,…
Gravitational wave observation has the potential of probing ultralight bosonic fields such as axion. Axion forms a cloud around a rotating black hole (BH) by superradiant instability and should affect the gravitational waveform from binary BHs. On the other hand, considering the cloud associated with a BH in a binary system, tidal interaction depletes the cloud in some cases during the inspiral phase. We made the exhaustive study of cloud depletion numerically in a wide parameter range for equal mass binaries, assuming only the quadrupolar tidal perturbation is at work. We found that clouds ca…
We investigate the stochastic gravitational wave background produced by primordial black hole binaries during their early inspiral stage while accreting high-density radiation surrounding them in the early universe. We first show that the gravitational wave amplitude produced from a primordial black hole binary has correction terms because of the rapid rate of increase in masses of the primordial black holes. These correction terms arise due to non-vanishing first and second time derivatives of the masses and their contribution to the overall second time derivative of quadrupole moment tensor.…
We study the gravitational waves emitted by an inspiralling compact binary system in massive Brans-Dicke theory. In addition to the two tensor polarizations, which have been obtained in the previous work, we calculate explicitly and analytically the expressions for the time-domain waveforms of the two scalar polarizations. With the stationary phase approximations, we obtain the Fourier transforms of the two tensor polarizations. We find that when the scalar field is light, the waveforms can be mapped to the parametrized post-Einsteinian (ppE) framework and we identify the ppE parameters. Howev…
We derived a post-Newtonian (PN) inspiral only gravitational waveform for unequal mass, spinning black hole binaries. Towards the end of the inspiral the larger spin dominates over the orbital angular momentum (while the smaller spin is negligible), hence the name Spin-Dominated Waveforms (SDW). Such systems are common sources for future gravitational wave detectors and during the inspiral the largest amplitude waves are emitted exactly in its last part. The SDW waveforms emerge as a double expansion in the PN parameter and the ratio of the orbital angular momentum to the dominant spin.
The localization and distance inference of gravitational waves are two crucial factors for dark sirens as precise probes of cosmology, astrophysics, and fundamental physics. In this Letter, for the first time we investigate the parameter estimation of gravitational waves emitted by the eccentric compact binaries in the mid-frequency (0.1--10 Hz) band. Based on the configuration of one cluster of DECIGO (B-DECIGO), we simulate five types of typical compact binaries in GWTC-3 with component mass ranging from $\mathcal{O}(1\sim100)~M_{\odot}$. For each type of binaries, we assign discrete eccentr…
The inspirals and mergers of compact binaries are among the most promising events for ground-based gravitational-wave (GW) observatories. The detection of electromagnetic (EM) signals from these sources would provide complementary information to the GW signal. It is therefore important to determine the ability of gravitational-wave detectors to localize compact binaries on the sky, so that they can be matched to their EM counterparts. We use Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques to study sky localization using networks of ground-based interferometers. Using a coherent-network analysis, we find t…
We study a novel electromagnetic signature of supermassive black hole binaries whose inspiral starts being dominated by gravitational wave (GW) emission. Recent simulations suggest that the binary's member BHs can continue to accrete gas from the circumbinary accretion disk in this phase of the binary's evolution, all the way until coalescence. If one of the binary members produces a radio jet as a result of accretion, the jet precesses along a biconical surface due to the binary's orbital motion. When the binary enters the GW phase of its evolution, the opening angle widens, the jet exhibits …
Ultralight scalar fields such as axions can form clouds around rotating black holes (BHs) by the superradiant instability. It is important to consider the evolution of clouds associated with BH binaries for the detectability of the presence of clouds through gravitational wave signals and observations of the mass and spin parameters of BHs. We re-examine the impact on the axion cloud due to the tidal perturbation from the companion in a binary system taking into account the following points. First, we study the influence of higher-multipole moments. Second, we consider the backreaction due to …
Inspiraling supermassive black hole binary systems with high orbital eccentricity are important sources for space-based gravitational wave (GW) observatories like the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). Eccentricity adds orbital harmonics to the Fourier transform of the GW signal and relativistic pericenter precession leads to a three-way splitting of each harmonic peak. We study the parameter estimation accuracy for such waveforms with different initial eccentricity using the Fisher matrix method and a Monte Carlo sampling of the initial binary orientation. The eccentricity improves th…
Given the absence of observations of black hole binaries, it is critical that the full range of accessible parameter space be explored in anticipation of future observation with gravitational wave detectors. To this end, we compile the Hamiltonian equations of motion describing the conservative dynamics of the most general black hole binaries, as computed by Will and collaborators, and incorporate an effective treatment of dissipation through gravitational radiation. We evolve these equations for systems with orbital eccentricity and precessing spins. We find that, while spin-spin coupling cor…
Sensitivity of Weak Lensing Surveys to Gravitational Waves from Inspiraling Supermassive Black Hole Binaries
University of Southern California（南加州大学）；Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology（加州理工学院喷气推进实验室）；California Institute of Technology（加州理工学院）
Extreme mass ratio inspirals (EMRIs) are compact binary systems characterized by a mass-ratio $q=m/M$ in the range $~10^{-9}-10^{-4}$ and represent primary gravitational wave (GW) sources for the forthcoming Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). While their standard formation channel involves relaxation processes deflecting compact objects on very low angular momentum orbits around the central massive black hole, a number of alternative formation channels has been proposed, including binary tidal break-up, migration in accretion disks and secular and chaotic dynamics around a massive blac…
Distinguishing Neutron Star vs. Low-Mass Black Hole Binaries with Late Inspiral & Postmerger Gravitational Waves $-$ Sensitivity to Transmuted Black Holes and Non-Annihilating Dark Matter
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research（塔塔基础研究所）；Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics（大学间天体物理中心）
Gravitational wave observations will probe non-linear gravitational interactions and thus enable strong tests of Einstein's theory of general relativity. We present a numerical relativity study of the late inspiral and merger of binary black holes in scalar-tensor theories of gravity. We consider black hole binaries in an inhomogeneous scalar field, specifically binaries inside a scalar field bubble, in some cases with a potential. We calculate the emission of dipole radiation. We also show how these configurations trigger detectable differences between gravitational waves in scalar-tensor gra…
