Multimessenger Astronomy with Black Holes: Extreme mass ratio inspirals

Abstract

This text will appear as Section II of Chapter 5 of the book "Black Holes in the Era of Gravitational-Wave Astronomy". As a stand alone text, it serves as a brief overview of astrophysics and gravitational wave radiation of extreme mass ratio inspirals, or EMRIs. Topics covered consist of: dynamical and gas-assisted formation channels, basics of EMRI dynamics and gravitational radiation, and science potential for both astrophysics and fundamental physics.

To appear in Chapter 5 in the book Black Holes in the Era of Gravitational Wave Astronomy, ed. Arca Sedda, Bortolas, Spera, pub. Elsevier. All authors equally contributed to the Chapter writing