Systems consisting of a massive black hole and a stellar-origin compact object (CO), known as extreme-mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs), are of great significance for space-based gravitational-wave detectors, as they will allow for testing gravitational theories in the strong field regime, and for checking the validity of the black hole no-hair theorem. In this work, we present a calculation of the EMRI rate and parameter estimation capabilities of the TianQin observatory, for various astrophysical models for these sources. We find that TianQin can observe EMRIs involving COs with mass of 10$M_\odot$ up to redshift $\sim2$. We also find that detections could reach tens or hundreds per year in the most optimistic astrophysical scenarios. Intrinsic parameters are expected to be recovered to within fractional errors of $\sim 10^{-6}$, while typical errors on the luminosity distance and sky localization are 10% and 10 deg$^2$, respectively. TianQin observation of EMRIs can also constrain possible deviations from the Kerr quadrupole moment to within fractional errors $\lesssim10^{-4}$. We also find that a network of multiple detectors would allow for improvements in both detection rates (by a factor $\sim 1.5$ -$3$) and in parameter estimation precision (20-fold improvement for the sky localization and fivefold improvement for the other parameters).
We explore the prospects of detecting of Galactic double white dwarf (DWD) binaries with the space-based gravitational wave (GW) observatory TianQin. In this work, we analyze both a sample of currently known DWDs and a realistic synthetic population of DWDs to assess the number of guaranteed detections and the full capacity of the mission. We find that TianQin can detect 12 out of $\sim100$ known DWDs; GW signals of these binaries can be modeled in detail ahead of the mission launch, and therefore they can be used as verification sources. Besides we estimate that TianQin has potential to detec…
We study the prospect of using TianQin to detect stellar-mass binary black holes (SBBHs). We estimate the expected detection number as well as the precision of parameter estimation on SBBH inspirals, using five different population models. We note TianQin can possibly detect a few SBBH inspirals with signal to noise ratios greater than 12; lowering the threshold and combining multiple detectors can both boost the detection number. The source parameters can be recovered with good precision for most events above the detection threshold. For example, the precision of the merger time most likely o…
We investigate the prospects of detecting gravitational waves from coalescing massive black hole binaries in the Universe with the TianQin observatory, a space-based gravitational wave interferometer proposed to be launched in the 2030s. To frame the scientific scope of the mission, in this paper, we carry out a preliminary estimation of the signal-to-noise ratio, detection rate and parameter estimation precision of massive black hole binaries detectable by TianQin. In order to make our results as robust as possible, we consider several models of the growth history of massive black holes, expl…
We study the stellar binary black holes (BBHs) inspiralling/merging in galactic nuclei based on our numerical method GNC. We find that $3-40\%$ of all new born BBHs will finally merge due to various dynamical effects. In a five year's mission, up to $10^4$, $10^5$, $\sim100$ of BBHs inspiralling/merging in galactic nuclei can be detected with SNR$>8$ in aLIGO, Einstein/DECIGO, TianQin/LISA/TaiJi, respectively. About tens are detectable in both LISA/TaiJi/TianQin and aLIGO. These BBHs have two unique characteristics: (1) Significant eccentricities. $1-3\%$, $2-7\%$, or $30-90\%$ of them is with…
Science Opportunities of Wet Extreme Mass-Ratio Inspirals
Leicester International Institute, Dalian University of Technology（大连理工大学莱斯特国际学院）；Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University（上海交通大学李政道研究所）；School of Physics & Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University（上海交通大学物理与天文学院）；Department of Astronomy, Tsinghua University（清华大学天文系）；CAS Key Laboratory for Research in Galaxies and Cosmology, Department of Astronomy, University of Science and Technology of China（中国科学院星系与宇宙学重点实验室，中国科学技术大学天文系）；School of Astronomy and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China（中国科学技术大学天文与空间科学学院）
Constructing a gravitational wave analysis pipeline for extremely large mass ratio inspirals
Sun Yat-sen University (Zhuhai Campus)（中山大学（珠海校区））；Huazhong University of Science and Technology（华中科技大学）；Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications（北京国际数学研究中心）；Peking University（北京大学）；Hebei University（河北大学）
Gravitational waves (GWs) can be produced if a stellar compact object, such as a black hole (BH) or neutron star, inspirals into an intermediate-massive black hole (IMBH) of $(10^3 \sim 10^5)\,M_\odot$. Such a system may be produced in the center of a globular cluster (GC) or a nuclear star cluster (NSC), and is known as an intermediate- or extreme-mass-ratio inspiral (IMRI or EMRI). Motivated by the recent suggestions that dark matter minispikes could form around IMBHs, we study the effect of dynamical friction against DM on the merger rate of IMRIs/EMRIs. We find that the merger timescale of…
Extreme Mass Ratio Inspirals (EMRIs) are important sources for space-borne gravitational wave detectors, such as LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) and TianQin. Previous EMRI rate studies have focused on the "loss cone" scenario, where stellar-mass black holes (sBHs) are scattered into highly eccentric orbits near the central massive black hole (MBH) via multi-body interaction. In this work, we calculate the rate of EMRIs of an alternative formation channel: EMRI formation assisted by the accretion flow around accreting massive black holes. In this scenario, sBHs and stars on inclined o…
When a stellar massive compact object, such as a black hole (BH), inspirals into an intermediate massive black hole (IMBH), an intermediate-mass-ratio-inspiral (IMRI) system forms. Such kind of systems are important sources for space-based gravitational wave detectors including LISA, Taiji and Tianqin. Dark matter (DM) minispikes may form around IMBHs. We study the effect of dynamical friction against DM minispike on the evolution of eccentric IMRI. For such investigation we construct the dynamical equations which describes the evolution of eccentric IMRI under the effect of dynamical friction…
Extreme-mass-ratio inspirals will be prized sources for the upcoming space-based gravitational-wave observatory LISA. The hunt for these is beset by many open theoretical and computational problems in both source modeling and data analysis. We draw attention here to one of the most poorly understood: the phenomenon of non-local correlations in the space of extreme-mass-ratio-inspiral signals. Such correlations are ubiquitous in the continuum of possible signals (degeneracy), and severely hinder the search for actual signals in LISA data. However, they are unlikely to manifest in a realistic se…
Recoil-regulated extreme mass-ratio inspirals in AGN disks
University of Florida（佛罗里达大学）；Institute of Science and Technology Austria（奥地利科学技术研究院）；Columbia University（哥伦比亚大学）；Shanghai Astronomical Observatory（上海天文台）
通过半解析模型和蒙特卡洛模拟，发现双星形成、层级并合和反冲踢从根本上调控了 AGN 盘中极端质量比旋进的形成，预测 LISA 探测率约 1-30 yr⁻¹，且可探测事件优先出现在年轻 AGN 中。
Extreme mass ratio inspirals into black holes surrounded by matter: Resonance crossings
Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences（捷克科学院天文研究所）；Institute of Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University（查理大学数学物理学院理论物理研究所）
We analyze the event GW 150914 announced by the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) as the gravitational-wave emission of a black-hole binary merger. We show that the parameters of the coalescing system and of the newly formed Kerr black-hole can be extracted from basic results of the gravitational-wave emission during the inspiraling and merger phases without sophisticated numerical simulations. Our strikingly accurate estimates are based on textbook formulas describing two different regimes: 1) the binary inspiraling analysis treated in Landau and Lifshitz tex…
An evolving Japanese gravitational-wave (GW) mission in the deci-Hz band: B-DECIGO (DECihertz laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) will enable us to detect GW150914-like binary black holes, GW170817-like binary neutron stars, and intermediate-mass binary black holes out to cosmological distances. The B-DECIGO band slots in between the aLIGO-Virgo-KAGRA-IndIGO (hecto-Hz) and LISA (milli-Hz) bands for broader bandwidth; the sources described emit GWs for weeks to years across the multiband to accumulate high signal-to-noise ratios. This suggests the possibility that joint detecti…
In a recent letter we have outlined some issues on GW 150914, we hereby give additional details. We analyze the event GW 150914 announced by the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) as the gravitational-wave emission of a black-hole binary merger. We show that the parameters of the coalescing system and of the newly formed Kerr black-hole can be extracted from basic results of the gravitational-wave emission during the inspiraling and merger phases without sophisticate numerical simulations. Our strikingly accurate estimates are based on textbook formulas describ…
Testing deviation of GR is one of the main goals of the proposed {\emph{Laser Interferometer Space Antenna}}, a space-based gravitational-wave observatory. For the first time, we consistently compute the generation of gravitational waves from extreme-mass ratio inspirals (stellar compact objects into supermassive black holes) in a well-motivated alternative theory of gravity, that to date remains weakly constrained by double binary pulsar observations. The theory we concentrate on is Chern-Simons (CS) modified gravity, a 4-D, effective theory that is motivated both from string theory and loop-…
From S2 to LISA: Astrometric Bounds on Extreme-Mass-Ratio Inspirals and Bursts
CERN（欧洲核子研究中心）；Dipartimento di Fisica, “Sapienza” Università di Roma & Sezione INFN Roma1（罗马第一大学物理系与INFN罗马第一分部）；Weizmann Institute of Science（魏茨曼科学研究所）
The gravitational wave event, GW190521 is the most massive binary black hole merger observed by ground-based gravitational wave observatories LIGO/Virgo to date. While the observed gravitational-wave signal is mainly in the merger and ringdown phases, the inspiral gravitational-wave signal of GW190521-like binary will be more visible by space-based detectors in the low-frequency band. In addition, the ringdown gravitational-wave signal will be more loud with the next generation (3G) of ground-based detectors in the high-frequency band, displaying a great potential of the multiband gravitationa…
Quasi-periodic eruptions (QPEs), which are a new kind of X-ray bursts with a recurrence time of several hours, have been detected from supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in galactic nuclei. Recently, the two QPEs discovered by the \textit{eROSITA} show asymmetric light curves with a fast rise and a slow decline. Current models cannot explain the observational characteristics of QPEs. Here we show that QPEs can be generated from the Roche lobe overflows at each periapsis passage of an evolved star orbiting an SMBH. The properties of the companion stars are constrained via analytic estimations. We…
One of the most promising gravitational wave (GW) sources detectable by the forthcoming LISA observatory are the so-called extreme-mass ratio inspirals (EMRIs), i.e. GW-driven inspirals of stellar-mass compact objects onto supermassive black holes (SMBHs). In this paper, we suggest that supernova (SN) kicks may trigger EMRIs in galactic nuclei by scattering newborn stellar black holes and neutron stars on extremely eccentric orbits; as a consequence, the time-scale over which these compact objects are expected to inspiral onto the central SMBH via GW emission may become shorter than the time-s…
On September 14, 2015 at 09:50:45 UTC the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory simultaneously observed a transient gravitational-wave signal. The signal sweeps upwards in frequency from 35 to 250 Hz with a peak gravitational-wave strain of $1.0 \times 10^{-21}$. It matches the waveform predicted by general relativity for the inspiral and merger of a pair of black holes and the ringdown of the resulting single black hole. The signal was observed with a matched-filter signal-to-noise ratio of 24 and a false alarm rate estimated to be less than 1 event per 203 …
The forthcoming Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will probe the population of coalescing massive black hole (MBH) binaries up to the onset of structure formation. Here we simulate the galactic-scale pairing of $\sim10^6 M_\odot$ MBHs in a typical, non-clumpy main-sequence galaxy embedded in a cosmological environment at $z = 7-6$. In order to increase our statistical sample, we adopt a strategy that allows us to follow the evolution of six secondary MBHs concomitantly. We find that the magnitude of the dynamical-friction induced torques is significantly smaller than that of the large-…
The LIGO/Virgo gravitational-wave (GW) interferometers have to-date detected ten merging black hole (BH) binaries, some with masses considerably larger than had been anticipated. Stellar-mass BH binaries at the high end of the observed mass range (with "chirp mass" ${\cal M} \gtrsim 25 M_{\odot}$) should be detectable by a space-based GW observatory years before those binaries become visible to ground-based GW detectors. This white paper discusses some of the synergies that result when the same binaries are observed by instruments in space and on the ground. We consider intermediate-mass black…
Tests of General Relativity with GW230529: a neutron star merging with a lower mass-gap compact object
Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute)（马克斯·普朗克引力物理学研究所（爱因斯坦研究所））；Nikhef – National Institute for Subatomic Physics（尼赫夫国家亚原子物理研究所）；Institute for Gravitational and Subatomic Physics (GRASP), Utrecht University（乌得勒支大学引力与亚原子物理研究所（GRASP））；Queen Mary University of London（伦敦大学玛丽女王学院）；Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge（剑桥大学应用数学与理论物理系）；Bar-Ilan University（巴伊兰大学）；Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park（马里兰大学帕克分校物理系）；Institut für Physik und Astronomie, Universität Potsdam（波茨坦大学物理与天文学研究所）
Gravitational waves from coalescing neutron stars encode information about nuclear matter at extreme densities, inaccessible by laboratory experiments. The late inspiral is influenced by the presence of tides, which depend on the neutron star equation of state. Neutron star mergers are expected to often produce rapidly-rotating remnant neutron stars that emit gravitational waves. These will provide clues to the extremely hot post-merger environment. This signature of nuclear matter in gravitational waves contains most information in the 2-4 kHz frequency band, which is outside of the most sens…
Gravitational wave signals from compact astrophysical sources such as those observed by LIGO and Virgo require a high-accuracy, theory-based waveform model for the analysis of the recorded signal. Current inspiral-merger-ringdown models are calibrated only up to moderate mass ratios, thereby limiting their applicability to signals from high-mass ratio binary systems. We present EMRISur1dq1e4, a reduced-order surrogate model for gravitational waveforms of 13,500M in duration and including several harmonic modes for non-spinning black hole binary systems with mass-ratios varying from 3 to 10,000…
Dynamical friction (DF) against stars and gas is thought to be an important mechanism for orbital evolution of massive black holes (MBHs) in merger remnant galaxies. Recent theoretical investigations however show that DF does not always lead to MBH inspiral. For MBHs evolving in gas-rich backgrounds, the ionizing radiation that emerges from the innermost parts of their accretion flow can affect the surrounding gas in such a way to cause the MBHs to accelerate and gain orbital energy. This effect was dubbed "negative DF". We use a semi-analytic model to study the impact of negative DF on pairs …
Accreting supermassive binary black holes (SMBBHs) are potential targets for multi-messenger astronomy as they emit gravitational waves (GW) while their environment emits electromagnetic (EM) waves. In order to get the most out of a joint GW-EM detection we first need to obtain theoretically-predicted EM signals unambiguously linked to BBHs. In that respect, this is the first of a series of papers dedicated to accreting pre-merger BBHs and their associated EM observables. Here, we extend our Numerical Observatory of Violent Accreting systems, e-NOVAs, to any spacetime. Unlike previous studies,…
Coalescing, massive black-hole (MBH) binaries are the most powerful sources of gravitational waves (GWs) in the Universe, which makes MBH science a prime focus for ongoing and upcoming GW observatories. The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) -- a gigameter scale space-based GW observatory -- will grant us access to an immense cosmological volume, revealing MBHs merging when the first cosmic structures assembled in the Dark Ages. LISA will unveil the yet unknown origin of the first quasars, and detect the teeming population of MBHs of $10^4 - 10^7$ solar masses. forming within protogalac…
