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Prospects for gravitational-wave observations of neutron-star tidal disruption in neutron-star/black-hole binaries

Michele Vallisneri
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Abstract

For an inspiraling neutron-star/black-hole binary (NS/BH), we estimate the gravity-wave frequency f_td at the onset of NS tidal disruption. We model the NS as a tidally distorted, homogeneous, Newtonian ellipsoid on a circular, equatorial geodesic around a Kerr BH. We find that f_td depends strongly on the NS radius R, and estimate that LIGO-II (ca. 2006-2008) might measure R to 15% precision at 140 Mpc (about 1 event/yr under current estimates). This suggests that LIGO-II might extract valuable information about the NS equation of state from tidal-disruption waves.

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BibTeXRIS

Michele Vallisneri. 2000-04-19. Prospects for gravitational-wave observations of neutron-star tidal disruption in neutron-star/black-hole binaries. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.84.3519

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