## [1011.4987] Resonant recoil in extreme mass ratio binary black hole mergers

Authors: Christopher M Hirata

Date: 23 Nov 2010

Abstract: The inspiral and merger of a binary black hole system generally leads to an asymmetric distribution of emitted radiation, and hence a recoil of the remnant black hole directed opposite to the net linear momentum radiated. The recoil velocity is generally largest for comparable mass black holes and particular spin configurations, and approaches zero in the extreme mass ratio limit. It is generally believed that for extreme mass ratios eta<<1, the scaling of the recoil velocity is V {\propto} etaˆ2, where the proportionality coefficient depends on the spin of the larger hole and the geometry of the system (e.g. orbital inclination). Here we show that for low but nonzero inclination prograde orbits and very rapidly spinning large holes (spin parameter a*>0.9678) the inspiralling binary can pass through resonances where the orbit-averaged radiation-reaction force is nonzero. These resonance crossings lead to a new contribution to the kick (i.e. in addition to the transition/plunge kick), V {\propto} etaˆ{3/2}. For these configurations and sufficiently extreme mass ratios, this resonant recoil is dominant. While it seems doubtful that the resonant recoil will be astrophysically significant, its existence suggests caution when extrapolating the results of numerical kick results to extreme mass ratios and near-maximal spins.

#### Nov 30, 2010

1011.4987 (/preprints)
2010-11-30, 14:01 

## [1011.5238] Strong lensing of gravitational waves as seen by LISA

Authors: M. Sereno (POLITO), A. Sesana, A. Bleuler, Ph. Jetzer, M. Volonteri, M.C. Begelman

Date: 23 Nov 2010

Abstract: We discuss strong gravitational lensing of gravitational waves from merging of massive black hole binaries in the context of the LISA mission. Detection of multiple events would provide invaluable information on competing theories of gravity, evolution and formation of structures and, with complementary observations, constraints on H_0 and other cosmological parameters. Most of the optical depth for lensing is provided by intervening massive galactic halos, for which wave optics effects are negligible. Probabilities to observe multiple events are sizable for a broad range of formation histories. For the most optimistic models, up to 4 multiple events with a signal to noise ratio >= 8 are expected in a 5-year mission. Chances are significant even for conservative models with either light (<= 60%) or heavy (<= 40%) seeds. Due to lensing amplification, some intrinsically too faint signals are brought over threshold (<= 2 per year).

#### Nov 30, 2010

1011.5238 (/preprints)
2010-11-30, 14:00 

## [1011.5848] Strong Gravitational Lensing by Sgr A*

Authors: Amitai Y. Bin-Nun

Date: 26 Nov 2010

Abstract: In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of the potential of the galactic center as a probe of general relativity in the strong field. There is almost certainly a black hole at Sgr A* in the galactic center, and this would allow us the opportunity to probe dynamics near the exterior of the black hole. In the last decade, there has been research into extreme gravitational lensing in the galactic center. Unlike in most applications of gravitational lensing, where the bending angle is of the order of several arc seconds, very large bending angles are possible for light that closely approaches a black hole. Photons may even loop multiple times around a black hole before reaching the observer. There have been many proposals to use light's close approach to the black hole as a probe of the black hole metric. Of particular interest is the property of light lensed by the S stars orbiting in the galactic center. This paper will review some of the attempts made to study extreme lensing as well as extend the analysis of lensing by S stars. In particular, we are interested in the effect of a Reissner-Nordstrom like 1/rˆ2 term in the metric and how this would affect the properties of relativistic images.

#### Nov 30, 2010

1011.5848 (/preprints)
2010-11-30, 13:59 

## [1011.6317] Watch This Space: Observing Merging White Dwarfs

Authors: Ronald F. Webbink

Date: 29 Nov 2010

Abstract: 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.

#### Nov 30, 2010

1011.6317 (/preprints)
2010-11-30, 13:57 

## [1011.2908] Dark Matter as a Relativistic Inertial Effect in Einstein Canonical Gravity?

Authors: Luca Lusanna (INFN, Firenze)

Date: 12 Nov 2010

Abstract: After the study of non-inertial frames in special relativity with emphasis on the problem of clock synchronization (i.e. of how to define 3-space), an overview is given of Einstein canonical gravity in the York canonical basis and of its Hamiltonian Post-Minkowskian (PM) linearization in 3-orthogonal gauges. It is shown that the York time (the trace of the extrinsic curvature of 3-spaces) is the inertial gauge variable describing the general relativistic remnant of the clock synchronization gauge freedom. The dark matter implied by the rotation curves of galaxies can be explained with a choice of the York time implying a PM extension of the Newtonian celestial frame ICRS.

#### Nov 21, 2010

1011.2908 (/preprints)
2010-11-21, 11:04 

## [1011.2767] Perturbative effects of spinning black holes with applications to recoil velocities

Authors: Hiroyuki Nakano, Manuela Campanelli, Carlos O. Lousto, Yosef Zlochower

Date: 11 Nov 2010

Abstract: Recently, we proposed an enhancement of the Regge-Wheeler-Zerilli formalism for first-order perturbations about a Schwarzschild background that includes first-order corrections due to the background black-hole spin. Using this formalism, we investigate gravitational wave recoil effects from a spinning black-hole binary system analytically. This allows us to better understand the origin of the large recoils observed in full numerical simulation of spinning black hole binaries.

#### Nov 21, 2010

1011.2767 (/preprints)
2010-11-21, 11:04 

## [1011.3050] The ELM Survey. I. A Complete Sample of Extremely Low Mass White Dwarfs

Authors: Warren R. Brown, Mukremin Kilic, Carlos Allende Prieto, Scott J. Kenyon

Date: 12 Nov 2010

Abstract: We analyze radial velocity observations of the 12 extremely low-mass <0.25 Msol white dwarfs (WDs) in the MMT Hypervelocity Star Survey. Eleven of the 12 WDs are binaries with orbital periods shorter than 14 hours; the one non-variable WD is possibly a pole-on system among our non-kinematically selected targets. Our sample is unique: it is complete in a well-defined range of apparent magnitude and color. The orbital mass functions imply that the unseen companions are most likely other WDs, although neutron star companions cannot be excluded. Six of the 11 systems with orbital solutions will merge within a Hubble time due to the loss of angular momentum through gravitational wave radiation. The quickest merger is J0923+3028, a g=15.7 ELM WD binary with a 1.08 hr orbital period and a <130 Myr merger time. The chance of a supernova Ia event among our ELM WDs is only 1%-7%, however. Three binary systems (J0755+4906, J1233+1602, and J2119-0018) have extreme mass ratios and will most likely form stable mass-transfer AM CVn systems. Two of these objects, SDSS J1233+1602 and J2119-0018, are the lowest surface gravity WDs ever found; both show Ca II absorption likely from accretion of circumbinary material. We predict that at least one of our WDs is an eclipsing detached double WD system, important for constraining helium core WD models.

#### Nov 21, 2010

1011.3050 (/preprints)
2010-11-21, 11:03 

## [1011.3047] The Merger Rate of Extremely Low Mass White Dwarf Binaries: Links to the Formation of AM CVn Stars and Underluminous Supernovae

Authors: Warren R. Brown, Mukremin Kilic, Carlos Allende Prieto, Scott J. Kenyon

Date: 12 Nov 2010

Abstract: We study a complete, colour-selected sample of double-degenerate binary systems containing extremely low mass (ELM) <0.25 Msol white dwarfs (WDs). We show, for the first time, that Milky Way disk ELM WDs have a merger rate of approximately 4 x 10ˆ(-5)/yr due to gravitational wave radiation. The merger end-product depends on the mass ratio of the binary. The ELM WD systems that undergo stable mass transfer can account for >3% of AM CVn stars. More importantly, the ELM WD systems that may detonate merge at a rate comparable to the estimated rate of underluminous SNe, rare explosions estimated to produce only ~0.2 Msol worth of ejecta. At least 25% of our ELM WD sample belong to the old thick disk and halo components of the Milky Way. Thus, if merging ELM WD systems are the progenitors of underluminous SNe, transient surveys must find them in both elliptical and spiral galaxies.

#### Nov 21, 2010

1011.3047 (/preprints)
2010-11-21, 11:03 

## [1011.4073] The ELM Survey. II. Twelve Binary White Dwarf Merger Systems

Authors: Mukremin Kilic, Warren R. Brown, Carlos Allende Prieto, M. A. Agueros, Craig Heinke, S. J. Kenyon

Date: 17 Nov 2010

Abstract: We describe new radial velocity and X-ray observations of extremely low-mass white dwarfs (ELM WDs, ~0.2 Msol) in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 4 and the MMT Hypervelocity Star survey. We identify four new short period binaries, including two merger systems. These observations bring the total number of short period binary systems identified in our survey to 20. No main-sequence or neutron star companions are visible in the available optical photometry, radio, and X-ray data. Thus, the companions are most likely WDs. Twelve of these systems will merge within a Hubble time due to gravitational wave radiation. We have now tripled the number of known merging WD systems. We discuss the characteristics of this merger sample and potential links to underluminous supernovae, extreme helium stars, AM CVn systems, and other merger products. We provide new observational tests of the WD mass-period distribution and cooling models for ELM WDs. We also find evidence for a new formation channel for single low-mass WDs through binary mergers of two lower mass objects.

#### Nov 21, 2010

1011.4073 (/preprints)
2010-11-21, 11:01 

## [1011.3281] Superkicks in ultrarelativistic encounters of spinning black holes

Authors: Ulrich Sperhake, Emanuele Berti, Vitor Cardoso, Frans Pretorius, Nicolas Yunes

Date: 15 Nov 2010

Abstract: We study ultrarelativistic encounters of two spinning, equal-mass black holes through simulations in full numerical relativity. Two initial data sequences are studied in detail: one that leads to scattering and one that leads to a grazing collision and merger. In all cases, the initial black hole spins lie in the orbital plane, a configuration that leads to the so-called "superkicks". In astrophysical, quasicircular inspirals, such kicks can be as large as ~3,000 km/s; here, we find configurations that exceed ~15,000 km/s. We find that the maximum recoil is to a good approximation proportional to the total amount of energy radiated in gravitational waves, but largely independent of whether a merger occurs or not. This shows that the mechanism predominantly responsible for the superkick is not related to merger dynamics. Rather, a consistent explanation is that the "bobbing" motion of the orbit causes an asymmetric beaming of the radiation produced by the in-plane orbital motion of the binary, and the net asymmetry is balanced by a recoil. We use our results to formulate some conjectures on the ultimate kick achievable in any black hole encounter.

#### Nov 15, 2010

1011.3281 (/preprints)
2010-11-15, 21:43 

## [1011.2647] A Very Close Binary Black Hole in a Giant Elliptical Galaxy 3C 66B and its Black Hole Merger

Authors: Satoru Iguchi, Takeshi Okuda, Hiroshi Sudou

Date: 11 Nov 2010

Abstract: Recent observational results provide possible evidence that binary black holes (BBHs) exist in the center of giant galaxies and may merge to form a supermassive black hole in the process of their evolution. We first detected a periodic flux variation on a cycle of $93\pm1$ days from the 3-mm monitor observations of a giant elliptical galaxy \object{3C 66B} for which an orbital motion with a period of $1.05\pm0.03$ years had been already observed. The detected signal period being shorter than the orbital period can be explained by taking into consideration the Doppler-shifted modulation due to the orbital motion of a BBH. Assuming that the BBH has a circular orbit and that the jet axis is parallel to the binary angular momentum, our observational results demonstrate the presence of a very close BBH that has the binary orbit with an orbital period of $1.05\pm0.03$ years, an orbital radius of $(3.9\pm1.0) \times 10ˆ{-3}$ pc, an orbital separation of $(6.1ˆ{+1.0}_{-0.9}) \times 10ˆ{-3}$ pc, the larger black hole mass of $(1.2ˆ{+0.5}_{-0.2}) \times 10ˆ9$ $M_{\sun}$, and the smaller black hole mass of $(7.0ˆ{+4.7}_{-6.4}) \times 10ˆ8$ $M_{\sun}$. The BBH decay time of $(5.1ˆ{+60.5}_{-2.5})\times 10ˆ2$ years provides evidence for the occurrence of black hole mergers. This Letter will demonstrate the interesting possibility of black hole collisions to form a supermassive black hole in the process of evolution, one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the universe.

#### Nov 12, 2010

1011.2647 (/preprints)
2010-11-12, 09:30 

## [1011.2707] Recurrence plots and chaotic motion around Kerr black hole

Authors: Ond&#x159;ej Kop&#xe1;&#x10d;ek, Ji&#x159;&#xed; Kov&#xe1;&#x159;, Vladim&#xed;r Karas, Zden&#x11b;k Stuchl&#xed;k

Date: 11 Nov 2010

Abstract: We study the motion of charged test particles around a Kerr black hole immersed in the asymptotically uniform magnetic field, concluding that off-equatorial stable orbits are allowed in this system. Being interested in dynamical properties of these astrophysically relevant orbits we employ rather novel approach based on the analysis of recurrences of the system to the vicinity of its previous states. We use recurrence plots (RPs) as a tool to visualize recurrences of the trajectory in the phase space. Construction of RPs is simple and straightforward regardless of the dimension of the phase space, which is a major advantage of this approach when compared to the "traditional" methods of the numerical analysis of dynamical systems (for instance the visual survey of Poincar\'{e} surfaces of section, evaluation of the Lyapunov spectra etc.). We show that RPs and their quantitative measures (obtained from recurrence quantification analysis -- RQA) are powerful tools to detect dynamical regime of motion (regular vs. chaotic) and precisely locate the transitions between these regimes.

#### Nov 12, 2010

1011.2707 (/preprints)
2010-11-12, 09:19 

## [1011.2601] Horizon dynamics in perturbed Kerr spacetimes

Authors: Tony Chu, Harald P. Pfeiffer, Michael I. Cohen

Date: 11 Nov 2010

Abstract: We present numerical simulations of a Kerr black hole perturbed by a pulse of ingoing gravitational radiation. For strong perturbations we find up to five concentric marginally outer trapped surfaces. These trapped surfaces appear and disappear in pairs, so that the total number of such surfaces at any given time is odd. The world tubes traced out by the marginally outer trapped surfaces are found to be spacelike during the highly dynamical regime, approaching a null hypersurface at early and late times. We analyze the structure of these marginally trapped tubes in the context of the dynamical horizon formalism, computing the expansion of outgoing and incoming null geodesics, as well as evaluating the dynamical horizon flux law and the angular momentum flux law. Finally, we compute the event horizon. The event horizon is well-behaved and approaches the apparent horizon before and after the highly dynamical regime. No new generators enter the event horizon during the simulation.

#### Nov 12, 2010

1011.2601 (/preprints)
2010-11-12, 09:19 

## [1011.2210] Modeling Gravitational Recoil Using Numerical Relativity

Authors: Yosef Zlochower, Manuela Campanelli, Carlos O. Lousto

Date: 9 Nov 2010

Abstract: We review the developments in modeling gravitational recoil from merging black-hole binaries and introduce a new set of simulations to test our previously proposed empirical formula for the recoil. The configurations are chosen to represent generic binaries with unequal masses and precessing spins. Results of these simulations indicate that the recoil formula is accurate to within a few km/s in the similar mass-ratio regime for the out-of-plane recoil.

#### Nov 11, 2010

1011.2210 (/preprints)
2010-11-11, 16:51 

## [1011.2059] Estimation of compact binary coalescense rates from short gamma-ray burst redshift measurements

Authors: Alexander Dietz

Date: 9 Nov 2010

Abstract: Short gamma-ray bursts are believed to originate from the merger of two compact objects. If this scenario is correct, these bursts will be accompanied by the emission of strong gravitational waves, detectable by current or planned GW detectors, such as LIGO and Virgo. No detection of a gravitational wave has been made up to date. In this paper I will use a set of observed redshift measurements of short gamma-ray bursts to fit a model in order to determine the rate of such merger events in the nearby universe. Various corrections will be included in that calculation, as the field-of-view of the satellite missions, the beaming factors of gamma-ray bursts and other parameters. The computed rate estimations will be compared to other rate estimations, based on observations on binary neutron stars and population synthesis models. Given the upper limit established by LIGO/Virgo measurements, it is possible to draw conclusions on the beaming angle of gamma-ray bursts.

#### Nov 10, 2010

1011.2059 (/preprints)
2010-11-10, 13:06 

## [1011.2062] Fundamental physics and cosmology with LISA

Authors: Stanislav Babak, Jonathan R. Gair, Antoine Petiteau, Alberto Sesana

Date: 9 Nov 2010

Abstract: In this article we give a brief review of the fundamental physics that can be done with the future space-based gravitational wave detector LISA. This includes detection of gravitational wave bursts coming from cosmic strings, measuring a stochastic gravitational wave background, mapping spacetime around massive compact objects in galactic nuclei with extreme-mass-ratio inspirals and testing the predictions of General Relativity for the strong dynamical fields of inspiralling binaries. We give particular attention to new results which show the capability of LISA to constrain cosmological parameters using observations of coalescing massive Black Hole binaries.

#### Nov 10, 2010

1011.2062 (/preprints)
2010-11-10, 13:06 

## [1011.1357] A search for gravitational waves associated with the August 2006 timing glitch of the Vela pulsar

Authors: The LIGO Scientific Collaboration: J. Abadie et al

Date: 5 Nov 2010

Abstract: The physical mechanisms responsible for pulsar timing glitches are thought to excite quasi-normal mode oscillations in their parent neutron star that couple to gravitational wave emission. In August 2006, a timing glitch was observed in the radio emission of PSR B0833-45, the Vela pulsar. At the time of the glitch, the two co-located Hanford gravitational wave detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave observatory (LIGO) were operational and taking data as part of the fifth LIGO science run (S5). We present the first direct search for the gravitational wave emission associated with oscillations of the fundamental quadrupole mode excited by a pulsar timing glitch. No gravitational wave detection candidate was found. We place Bayesian 90% confidence upper limits of 6.3e-21 to 1.4e-20 on the peak intrinsic strain amplitude of gravitational wave ring-down signals, depending on which spherical harmonic mode is excited. The corresponding range of energy upper limits is 5.0e44 to 1.3e45 erg.

#### Nov 08, 2010

1011.1357 (/preprints)
2010-11-08, 11:06 

## [1011.1459] The Mass Distribution of Stellar-Mass Black Holes

Authors: Will M. Farr, Niharika Sravan, Andrew Cantrell, Laura Kreidberg, Charles D. Bailyn, Ilya Mandel, Vicky Kalogera

Date: 5 Nov 2010

Abstract: We perform a Bayesian analysis of the mass distribution of stellar-mass black holes using the observed masses of 15 low-mass X-ray binary systems undergoing Roche lobe overflow and five high-mass, wind-fed X-ray binary systems. Using MCMC calculations, we model the mass distribution both parametrically — as a power law, exponential, gaussian, combination of two gaussians, or log-normal distribution — and non-parametrically — as histograms with varying numbers of bins. We provide confidence bounds on the shape of the mass distribution in the context of each model and compare the models by calculating their Bayesian evidence. The mass distribution of the low-mass systems is best fit by a power-law, while the distribution of the combined sample is best fit by the exponential model. This difference indicates that the low-mass subsample is not consistent with being drawn from the distribution of the combined population. We examine the existence of a ‘gap’ between the most massive neutron stars and the least massive black holes by considering the 1% quantile from each black hole mass distribution, M_1%. The best model (the power law) fitted to the low-mass systems gives a distribution with M_1% > 4.3 MSun with 90% confidence, while the best model (the exponential) fitted to all 20 systems has M_1% > 4.5 MSun with 90% confidence. We conclude that our sample of black hole masses provides strong evidence of a gap between the maximum neutron star mass and the minimum black hole mass. Our results on the low-mass sample are in qualitative agreement with those of Ozel et al (2010), although our broad model-selection analysis more reliably reveals the best-fit underlying mass distribution. The presence of a mass gap remains theoretically unexplained.

#### Nov 08, 2010

1011.1459 (/preprints)
2010-11-08, 11:06 

## [1011.1256] The Distribution of Coalescing Compact Binaries in the Local Universe: Prospects for Gravitational-Wave Observations

Authors: Luke Zoltan Kelley, Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, Marcel Zemp, J&#xfc;rg Diemand, Ilya Mandel

Date: 4 Nov 2010

Abstract: Merging compact binaries are the most viable and best studied candidates for gravitational wave (GW) detection by the fully operational network of ground-based observatories. In anticipation of the first detections, the expected distribution of GW sources in the local universe is of considerable interest. Here we investigate the full phase space distribution of coalescing compact binaries at $z = 0$ using dark matter simulations of structure formation. The fact that these binary systems acquire large barycentric velocities at birth (kicks") results in merger site distributions that are more diffusely distributed with respect to their putative hosts, with mergers occurring out to distances of a few Mpc from the host halo. Redshift estimates based solely on the nearest galaxy in projection can, as a result, be inaccurate. On the other hand, large offsets from the host galaxy could aid the detection of faint optical counterparts and should be considered when designing strategies for follow-up observations. The degree of isotropy in the projected sky distributions of GW sources is found to be augmented with increasing kick velocity and to be severely enhanced if progenitor systems possess large kicks as inferred from the known population of pulsars and double compact binaries. Even in the absence of observed electromagnetic counterparts, the differences in sky distributions of binaries produced by disparate kick-velocity models could be discerned by GW observatories, within the expected accuracies and detection rates of advanced LIGO--in particular with the addition of more interferometers.

#### Nov 08, 2010

1011.1256 (/preprints)
2010-11-08, 11:06 

## [1011.1088] From geodesics of the multipole solutions to the perturbed Kepler problem

Authors: J.L. Hernandez-Pastora, J. Ospino

Date: 4 Nov 2010

Abstract: A static and axisymmetric solution of the Einstein vacuum equations with a finite number of Relativistic Multipole Moments (RMM) is written in MSA coordinates up to certain order of approximation, and the structure of its metric components is explicitly shown. From the equation of equatorial geodesics we obtain the Binet equation for the orbits and it allows us to determine the gravitational potential that leads to the equivalent classical orbital equations of the perturbed Kepler problem. The relativistic corrections to Keplerian motion are provided by the different contributions of the RMM of the source starting from the Monopole (Schwarzschild correction). In particular, the perihelion precession of the orbit is calculated in terms of the quadrupole and 2$ˆ4$-pole moments. Since the MSA coordinates generalize the Schwarzschild coordinates, the result obtained allows measurement of the relevance of the quadrupole moment in the first order correction to the perihelion frequency-shift.

#### Nov 06, 2010

1011.1088 (/preprints)
2010-11-06, 20:34 

## [1011.1179] Next-to-leading order spin-orbit and spin(a)-spin(b) Hamiltonians for n gravitating spinning compact objects

Authors: Johannes Hartung, Jan Steinhoff

Date: 4 Nov 2010

Abstract: We derive the post-Newtonian next-to-leading order conservative spin-orbit and spin(a)-spin(b) gravitational interaction Hamiltonians for arbitrary many compact objects. The spin-orbit Hamiltonian completes the knowledge of Hamiltonians up to and including 2.5PN for the general relativistic three-body problem. The new Hamiltonians include highly nontrivial three-body interactions, in contrast to the leading order consisting of two-body interactions only. This may be important for the study of effects like Kozai resonances in mergers of black holes with binary black holes.

#### Nov 06, 2010

1011.1179 (/preprints)
2010-11-06, 20:34 

## [1011.0593] Modeling maximum astrophysical gravitational recoil velocities

Authors: Carlos O. Lousto, Yosef Zlochower

Date: 2 Nov 2010

Abstract: We measure the recoil velocity as a function of spin for equal-mass, highly-spinning black-hole binaries, with spins in the orbital plane, equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. We confirm that the leading-order effect is linear in the spin and the cosine of angle between the spin direction and the infall direction at merger. We find higher-order corrections that are proportional to the odd powers in both the spin and cosine of this angle. Taking these corrections into account, we predict that the maximum recoil will be 3680+-130 km/s.

#### Nov 06, 2010

1011.0593 (/preprints)
2010-11-06, 20:33 

## [1011.0421] Intermediate-mass-ratio-inspirals in the Einstein Telescope. II. Parameter estimation errors

Authors: E.A. Huerta, Jonathan R. Gair

Date: 1 Nov 2010

Abstract: We explore the precision with which the Einstein Telescope (ET) will be able to measure the parameters of intermediate-mass-ratio inspirals (IMRIs). We calculate the parameter estimation errors using the Fisher Matrix formalism and present results of a Monte Carlo simulation of these errors over choices for the extrinsic parameters of the source. These results are obtained using two different models for the gravitational waveform which were introduced in paper I of this series. These two waveform models include the inspiral, merger and ringdown phases in a consistent way. One of the models, based on the transition scheme of Ori & Thorne [1], is valid for IMBHs of arbitrary spin, whereas the second model, based on the Effective One Body (EOB) approach, has been developed to cross-check our results in the non-spinning limit. In paper I of this series, we demonstrated that the predictions of these two models for signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) are consistent to within ten percent. We now use these waveform models to estimate parameter estimation errors for binary systems with masses 1.4+100, 10+100, 1.4+500 and 10+500 solar masses (SMs), and various choices for the spin of the central intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH). Assuming a detector network of three ETs, the analysis shows that for a 10 SM compact object (CO) inspiralling into a 100 SM IMBH with spin q=0.3, detected with an SNR of 30, we should be able to determine the CO and IMBH masses, and the IMBH spin magnitude to fractional accuracies of 0.001, 0.0003, and 0.001, respectively. We also expect to determine the location of the source in the sky and the luminosity distance to within 0.003 steradians, and 10%, respectively. We also compute results for several different possible configurations of the third generation detector network to assess how the extrinsic parameter determination depends on the network configuration.

#### Nov 02, 2010

1011.0421 (/preprints)
2010-11-02, 14:05 

## [1011.0002] Accretion Disks Around Binary Black Holes: A Quasistationary Model

Authors: Yuk Tung Liu, Stuart L. Shapiro

Date: 29 Oct 2010

Abstract: Tidal torques acting on a gaseous accretion disk around a binary black hole can create a gap in the disk near the orbital radius. At late times, when the binary inspiral timescale due to gravitational wave emission becomes shorter than the viscous timescale in the disk, the binary decouples from the disk and eventually merges. Prior to decoupling the balance between tidal and viscous torques drives the disk to a quasistationary equilibrium state, perturbed slightly by small amplitude, spiral density waves emanating from the edges of the gap. We consider a black hole binary with a companion of smaller mass and construct a simple Newtonian model for a geometrically thin, Keplerian disk in the orbital plane of the binary. We solve the disk evolution equations in steady state to determine the quasistationary, (orbit-averaged) surface density profile prior to decoupling. We use our solution, which is analytic up to simple quadratures, to compute the electromagnetic flux and approximate radiation spectrum during this epoch. A single nondimensional parameter Td/Tvis, equal to the ratio of the tidal to viscous torque at the orbital radius, determines the disk structure, including the surface density profile, the extent of the gap, the existence of an inner disk, and the accretion rate. The solution reduces to the Shakura-Sunyaev profile for a stationary accretion disk around a single black hole in the limit of small Td/Tvis. Our solution may be useful for choosing physical parameters and setting up quasistationary disk initial data for detailed numerical simulations that begin prior to decoupling and track the subsequent evolution of a black hole binary-disk system.

#### Nov 02, 2010

1011.0002 (/preprints)
2010-11-02, 14:05