Prospects for observing extreme-mass-ratio inspirals with LISA

Gair, J. R., Babak, S., Sesana, A., Amaro-Seoane, P., Barausse, E., Berry, C. P.L. , Berti, E. and Sopuerta, C. (2017) Prospects for observing extreme-mass-ratio inspirals with LISA. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 840(1), 012021. (doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/840/1/012021)

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Abstract

One of the key astrophysical sources for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) are the inspirals of stellar-origin compact objects into massive black holes in the centres of galaxies. These extreme-mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs) have great potential for astrophysics, cosmology and fundamental physics. In this paper we describe the likely numbers and properties of EMRI events that LISA will observe. We present the first results computed for the 2.5 Gm interferometer that was the new baseline mission submitted in January 2017 in response to the ESA L3 mission call. In addition, we attempt to quantify the astrophysical uncertainties in EMRI event rate estimates by considering a range of different models for the astrophysical population. We present both likely event rates and estimates for the precision with which the parameters of the observed sources could be measured. We finish by discussing the implications of these results for science using EMRIs.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:Conference paper presented at the 11th International LISA Symposium, Zurich, Switzerland, 05-09 Sep 2016.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Gair, Dr Jonathan and Berry, Dr Christopher
Authors: Gair, J. R., Babak, S., Sesana, A., Amaro-Seoane, P., Barausse, E., Berry, C. P.L., Berti, E., and Sopuerta, C.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Publisher:IOP Publishing
ISSN:1742-6588
ISSN (Online):1742-6596
Published Online:01 June 2017
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd.
First Published:First published in Journal of Physics: Conference Series 840(1): 012021
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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