arXiv · 1703.09703
On the Assembly Rate of Highly Eccentric Binary Black Hole Mergers
Abstract
In this {\it Letter} we calculate the fraction of highly eccentric binary black hole (BBH) mergers resulting from binary-single interactions. Using an $N$-body code that includes post-Newtonian correction terms, we show that $\gtrsim 1\%$ of all BBH mergers resulting from this channel will have an eccentricity $e>0.1$ when coming into the LIGO frequency band. As the majority of BBH mergers forming in globular clusters are assembled through three-body encounters, we suggest that such interactions are likely to dominate the population of high eccentricity BBH mergers detectable by LIGO. The relative frequency of highly eccentric events could eventually help to constrain the astrophysical origin of BBH mergers.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Johan Samsing, Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz. 2017-03-28. On the Assembly Rate of Highly Eccentric Binary Black Hole Mergers. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aa6f0b
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.