The final phase of inspiral of strange quark star binaries

We present calculations of the final phase of inspiral of irrotational strange star binaries. Two types of equation of state at zero temperature are used - the MIT bag model and the Dey et al. 1998 model of strange quark matter. We study the precoalescence stage within the Isenberg-Wilson-Mathews approximation of General Relativity using a multidomain spectral method. The gravitational-radiation driven evolution of the binary system is approximated by a sequence of quasi-equilibrium configurations at a fixed baryon number and with decreasing separation. We find that the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) is determined always by an orbital instability for binaries consisting of two stars built predominantly of strange quark matter independently on the total mass of a binary system and compactness parameter of each star. In contrast, for neutron stars described by baryonic equation of state without exotic phases the ISCO is given by the mass-shedding limit. The gravitational wave frequency at the ISCO, which marks the end of the inspiral phase, is always higher than 1.1kHz for equal masses irrotational strange quark stars with the total mass-energy of a binary system greater than $2 M_\odot$. We find that the dependence of the frequency of gravitational waves at the ISCO on the compactness parameter for the equal mass binaries can be described by the same simple analytical formulae for broad ranges of masses independently on a strange star model. Detailed comparisons with binary neutrons star models, as well as with the third order Post-Newtonian point-mass binaries are given. The difference in the phase, for two $1.35 M_\odot$ strange stars, between our numerical results and 3PN is $\sim 40$ for the last two orbits of inspiral

The final phase of inspiral of neutron stars: realistic equations of state

Coalescing compact star binaries are expected to be among the strongest sources of gravitational radiation to be seen by laser interferometers. We present calculations of the final phase of inspiral of equal mass irrotational neutron star binaries and strange quark star binaries. Six types of equations of state at zero temperature are used - three realistic nuclear equations of state of various softness and three different MIT bag models of strange quark matter. We study the precoalescing stage within the Isenberg-Wilson-Mathews approximation of general relativity using a multidomain spectral method. The gravitational-radiation driven evolution of the binary system is approximated by a sequence of quasi-equilibrium configurations at fixed baryon number and decreasing separation. We find that the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) is given by an orbital instability for binary strange quark stars and by the mass-shedding limit for neutron star binaries. The gravitational wave frequency at the ISCO, which marks the end of the inspiral phase, is found to be around 1100-1460 Hz for two 1.35 solar masses irrotational strange stars described by the MIT bag model and between 800 Hz and 1230 Hz for neutron stars.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, Advances in Space Research, in press,doi:10.1016/j.asr.2006.09.021, available online www.sciencedirect.com, paper updated according to the reviewer's suggestions (conclusions unchanged

An Optically Targeted Search for Gravitational Waves emitted by Core-Collapse Supernovae during the Third Observing Run of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo

We present the results from a search for gravitational-wave transients associated with core-collapse supernovae observed optically within 30 Mpc during the third observing run of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. No gravitational wave associated with a core-collapse supernova has been identified. We then report the detection efficiency for a variety of possible gravitational-wave emissions. For neutrino-driven explosions, the distance at which we reach 50% detection efficiency is up to 8.9 kpc, while more energetic magnetorotationally-driven explosions are detectable at larger distances. The distance reaches for selected models of the black hole formation, and quantum chromodynamics phase transition are also provided. We then constrain the core-collapse supernova engine across a wide frequency range from 50 Hz to 2 kHz. The upper limits on gravitational-wave energy and luminosity emission are at low frequencies down to 10−4M⊙c2 and 5×10−4M⊙c2/s, respectively. The upper limits on the proto-neutron star ellipticity are down to 5 at high frequencies. Finally, by combining the results obtained with the data from the first and second observing runs of LIGO and Virgo, we improve the constraints of the parameter spaces of the extreme emission models. Specifically, the proto-neutron star ellipticities for the long-lasting bar mode model are down to 1 for long emission (1 s) at high frequency

Black holes, gravitational waves and fundamental physics: a roadmap

The grand challenges of contemporary fundamental physics—dark matter, dark energy, vacuum energy, inflation and early universe cosmology, singularities and the hierarchy problem—all involve gravity as a key component. And of all gravitational phenomena, black holes stand out in their elegant simplicity, while harbouring some of the most remarkable predictions of General Relativity: event horizons, singularities and ergoregions. The hitherto invisible landscape of the gravitational Universe is being unveiled before our eyes: the historical direct detection of gravitational waves by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration marks the dawn of a new era of scientific exploration. Gravitational-wave astronomy will allow us to test models of black hole formation, growth and evolution, as well as models of gravitational-wave generation and propagation. It will provide evidence for event horizons and ergoregions, test the theory of General Relativity itself, and may reveal the existence of new fundamental fields. The synthesis of these results has the potential to radically reshape our understanding of the cosmos and of the laws of Nature. The purpose of this work is to present a concise, yet comprehensive overview of the state of the art in the relevant fields of research, summarize important open problems, and lay out a roadmap for future progress. This write-up is an initiative taken within the framework of the European Action on 'Black holes, Gravitational waves and Fundamental Physics'

Masses of merging compact object binaries

International audienceWe analyze the distribution of masses of compact object binaries observed in gravitational waves. We simulate the population of such binaries using the Star Track population synthesis code. We find that black hole black hole binaries observed in gravitational waves will be dominated by the nearly equal mass objects, the black hole neutron star binaries will mostly be the ones with the mass ratio q < 0.5. The neutron star neutron star binaries observed in gravitational waves are very likely to include large number of non equal mass systems with small mass ratio, as low as even q &ap; 0.6 - 0.7

Expected masses of merging compact object binaries observed in gravitational waves

International audienceWe use the well-tested STARTRACK binary population synthesis code to examine the properties of the population of compact object binaries. We calculate the distribution of masses and mass ratios, taking into account weights introduced by observability in gravitational waves during inspiral. We find that in the observability-weighted distribution of double neutron star binaries there are two peaks: one for nearly equal-mass systems, and one for systems consisting of a low- and a high-mass neutron star, q= 0.6-0.7. The observability-weighted distribution of black hole neutron star binaries is concentrated on systems with mass ratio q= 0.3-0.5, while for double black hole binaries the observability-weighted distribution is dominated by massive, nearly equal-mass binaries with q > 0.7

A new view on the maximum mass of differentially rotating neutron stars

International audienceWe study the main astrophysical properties of differentially rotating neutron stars described as stationary and axisymmetric configurations of a moderately stiff ${\rm{\Gamma }}=2$ polytropic fluid. The high level of accuracy and of stability of our relativistic multidomain pseudo-spectral code enables us to explore the whole solution space for broad ranges of the degree of differential rotation, but also of the stellar density and oblateness. Staying within an astrophysically motivated range of rotation profiles, we investigate the characteristics of neutron stars with maximal mass for all types of families of differentially rotating relativistic objects identified in a previous article. We find that the maximum mass depends on both the degree of differential rotation and the type of solution. It turns out that the maximum allowed mass can be up to 4 times higher than what it is for nonrotating stars with the same equation of state. Such values are obtained for a modest degree of differential rotation but for one of the newly discovered types of solutions. Since such configurations of stars are not that extreme, this result may have important consequences for the gravitational wave signal expected from coalescing neutron star binaries or from some supernova events