arXiv · 2310.06559
Neutron Star - White Dwarf Binaries: Probing Formation Pathways and Natal Kicks with LISA
Abstract
Neutron star-white dwarf (NS+WD) binaries offer a unique opportunity for studying NS-specific phenomena with gravitational waves. In this paper, we employ the binary population synthesis technique to study the Galactic population of NS+WDs with the future Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). We anticipate approximately $\mathcal{O}(10^2)$ detectable NS+WDs by LISA, encompassing both circular and eccentric binaries formed via different pathways. Despite the challenge of distinguishing NS+WDs from more prevalent double white dwarfs in the LISA data (especially at frequencies below 2 mHz), we show that their eccentricity and chirp mass distributions may provide avenues to explore the NS natal kicks and common envelope evolution. Additionally, we investigate the spatial distribution of detectable NS+WDs relative to the Galactic plane and discuss prospects for identifying electromagnetic counterparts at radio wavelengths. Our results emphasise LISA's capability to detect and characterise NS+WDs and to offer insights into the properties of the underlying population. Our conclusions carry significant implications for shaping LISA data analysis strategies and future data interpretation.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Valeriya Korol, Andrei P. Igoshev, Silvia Toonen, Nikolaos Karnesis, Christopher J. Moore, Eliot Finch, Antoine Klein. 2023-10-10. Neutron Star - White Dwarf Binaries: Probing Formation Pathways and Natal Kicks with LISA. https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.06559
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.