Eccentric double white dwarfs as lisa sources in globular clusters

B. Willems; V. Kalogera; A. Vecchio; N. Ivanova; F. A. Rasio; J. M. Fregeau; K. Belczynski

doi:10.1086/521049

Eccentric double white dwarfs as lisa sources in globular clusters

B. Willems^*, V. Kalogera, A. Vecchio, N. Ivanova, F. A. Rasio, J. M. Fregeau, K. Belczynski

^*Corresponding author for this work

Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

We consider the formation of double white dwarfs (DWDs) through dynamical interactions in globular clusters. Such interactions can give rise to eccentric DWDs, in contrast to the exclusively circular population expected to form in the Galactic disk. We show that for a 5 yr Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission and distances as far as the Large Magellanic Cloud, multiple harmonics from eccentric DWDs can be detected at a signal-to-noise ratio higher than 8 for at least a handful of eccentric DWDs, given their formation rate and typical lifetimes estimated from current cluster simulations. Consequently, the association of eccentricity with stellar-mass LISA sources does not uniquely involve neutron stars, as is usually assumed. Due to the difficulty of detecting (eccentric) DWDs with present and planned electromagnetic observatories, LISA could provide unique dynamical identifications of these systems in globular clusters.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L59-L62
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	665
Issue number	1 PART 2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/521049
State	Published - 2007

Funding

Keywords

Binaries: close
Gravitational waves
White dwarfs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1086/521049

Cite this

@article{a9f80286c4094af4a5b42539112958a6,

title = "Eccentric double white dwarfs as lisa sources in globular clusters",

abstract = "We consider the formation of double white dwarfs (DWDs) through dynamical interactions in globular clusters. Such interactions can give rise to eccentric DWDs, in contrast to the exclusively circular population expected to form in the Galactic disk. We show that for a 5 yr Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission and distances as far as the Large Magellanic Cloud, multiple harmonics from eccentric DWDs can be detected at a signal-to-noise ratio higher than 8 for at least a handful of eccentric DWDs, given their formation rate and typical lifetimes estimated from current cluster simulations. Consequently, the association of eccentricity with stellar-mass LISA sources does not uniquely involve neutron stars, as is usually assumed. Due to the difficulty of detecting (eccentric) DWDs with present and planned electromagnetic observatories, LISA could provide unique dynamical identifications of these systems in globular clusters.",

keywords = "Binaries: close, Gravitational waves, White dwarfs",

author = "B. Willems and V. Kalogera and A. Vecchio and N. Ivanova and Rasio, {F. A.} and Fregeau, {J. M.} and K. Belczynski",

year = "2007",

doi = "10.1086/521049",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "665",

pages = "L59--L62",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

number = "1 PART 2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Eccentric double white dwarfs as lisa sources in globular clusters

AU - Willems, B.

AU - Kalogera, V.

AU - Vecchio, A.

AU - Ivanova, N.

AU - Rasio, F. A.

AU - Fregeau, J. M.

AU - Belczynski, K.

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - We consider the formation of double white dwarfs (DWDs) through dynamical interactions in globular clusters. Such interactions can give rise to eccentric DWDs, in contrast to the exclusively circular population expected to form in the Galactic disk. We show that for a 5 yr Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission and distances as far as the Large Magellanic Cloud, multiple harmonics from eccentric DWDs can be detected at a signal-to-noise ratio higher than 8 for at least a handful of eccentric DWDs, given their formation rate and typical lifetimes estimated from current cluster simulations. Consequently, the association of eccentricity with stellar-mass LISA sources does not uniquely involve neutron stars, as is usually assumed. Due to the difficulty of detecting (eccentric) DWDs with present and planned electromagnetic observatories, LISA could provide unique dynamical identifications of these systems in globular clusters.

AB - We consider the formation of double white dwarfs (DWDs) through dynamical interactions in globular clusters. Such interactions can give rise to eccentric DWDs, in contrast to the exclusively circular population expected to form in the Galactic disk. We show that for a 5 yr Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission and distances as far as the Large Magellanic Cloud, multiple harmonics from eccentric DWDs can be detected at a signal-to-noise ratio higher than 8 for at least a handful of eccentric DWDs, given their formation rate and typical lifetimes estimated from current cluster simulations. Consequently, the association of eccentricity with stellar-mass LISA sources does not uniquely involve neutron stars, as is usually assumed. Due to the difficulty of detecting (eccentric) DWDs with present and planned electromagnetic observatories, LISA could provide unique dynamical identifications of these systems in globular clusters.

KW - Binaries: close

KW - Gravitational waves

KW - White dwarfs

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34548308817&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34548308817&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1086/521049

DO - 10.1086/521049

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:34548308817

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 665

SP - L59-L62

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1 PART 2

ER -

Eccentric double white dwarfs as lisa sources in globular clusters

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this