In this paper we present a brief overview of population synthesis methods
with a discussion of their main advantages and disadvantages. In the second
part, we present some recent results from synthesis models of close binary
compact objects with emphasis on the predicted rates, their uncertainties, and
the model input parameters the rates are most sensitive to. We also report on a
new evolutionary path leading to the formation of close double neutron stars
(NS), with the unique characteristic that none of the two NS ever had the
chance to be recycled by accretion. Their formation rates turn out to be
comparable to or maybe even higher than those of recycled NS-NS binaries (like
the ones observed), but their detection probability as binary pulsars is much
smaller because of their short lifetimes. We discuss the implications of such a
population for gravitational-wave detection of NS-NS inspiral events, and
possibly for gamma-ray bursts and their host galaxies.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figure, to appear in the proceedings ``The influence of
binaries on stellar population studies'', Brussels, August 2000 (Kluwer
Academic Publishers), ed. D.Vanbevere
