Detecting gravitational waves from accreting neutron stars
arXiv:0901.1680 · doi:10.1016/j.asr.2009.01.006
Abstract
The gravitational waves emitted by neutron stars carry unique information about their structure and composition. Direct detection of these gravitational waves, however, is a formidable technical challenge. In a recent study we quantified the hurdles facing searches for gravitational waves from the known accreting neutron stars, given the level of uncertainty that exists regarding spin and orbital parameters. In this paper we reflect on our conclusions, and issue an open challenge to the theoretical community to consider how searches should be designed to yield the most astrophysically interesting upper limits. With this in mind we examine some more optimistic emission scenarios involving spin-down, and show that there are technically feasible searches, particularly for the accreting millisecond pulsars, that might place meaningful constraints on torque mechanisms. We finish with a brief discussion of prospects for indirect detection.
13 pages, 3 figures, contribution to the session on "Probing Dense Matter and Strong Gravity with X-rays" at the 37th COSPAR Scientific Assembly (Montreal, July 2008). To appear in Advances in Space Research
References in corpus (10)
- Neutron Star Observations: Prognosis for Equation of State Constraints
- Modelling magnetically deformed neutron stars
- Detecting gravitational wave emission from the known accreting neutron stars
- Accretion to Magnetized Stars through the Rayleigh-Taylor Instability: Global Three-Dimensional Simulations
- Mountains on Neutron Stars: Accreted vs. Non-Accreted crusts
- Upper limit map of a background of gravitational waves
- Spin Evolution of Accreting Neutron Stars: Nonlinear Development of the R-mode Instability
- Ignition latitude and the shape of Type I X-ray bursts
- The Spin Distribution of Millisecond X-ray Pulsars
- Three-dimensional stability of magnetically confined mountains on accreting neutron stars