The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will open the low-frequency
(0.1-100 mHz) part of the gravitational wave spectrum to direct observation. Of
order 3600 galactic close binary white dwarfs will be individually resolvable
in its all-sky spectrum, of which a dozen systems are expected to be on the
verge of merger, showing the effects of strong tidal heating and/or early onset
of tidal mass transfer. Optical study of these systems would provide important
insights into tidal dissipation mechanisms, and internal heating in merging
white dwarfs that sets ignition conditions for potential type Ia supernovae.
Theoretical modeling and instrumentation programs are needed now to enable a
campaign for optical identifications to exploit this opportunity.Comment: 6 pages. To be published in Binary-Star Evolution: Mass Loss,
Accretion and Mergers, ed. V. Kalogera and M. van der Sluys (AIP Conf. Ser.
