Extreme-mass-ratio-bursts from extragalactic sources

Extreme-mass-ratio bursts (EMRBs) are a class of potentially interesting gravitational wave signals. They are produced when a compact object passes through periapsis on a highly eccentric orbit about a much more massive object; we consider stellar mass objects orbiting the massive black holes (MBHs)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMonthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Vol. 433; no. 4; pp. 3572 - 3583
Main Authors Berry, C. P. L., Gair, J. R.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Oxford University Press 21.08.2013
Subjects
Black holes
Gravity
Orbits
Starbursts
Stars & galaxies
gravitational waves
methods: data analysis
black hole physics
galaxies: nuclei
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Summary:Extreme-mass-ratio bursts (EMRBs) are a class of potentially interesting gravitational wave signals. They are produced when a compact object passes through periapsis on a highly eccentric orbit about a much more massive object; we consider stellar mass objects orbiting the massive black holes (MBHs) found in galactic centres. Such a system may emit many EMRBs before eventually completing the inspiral. There are several nearby galaxies that could yield detectable bursts. For a space-borne interferometer like the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, sensitivity is greatest for EMRBs from MBHs of ∼106-107 M, which could be detected out to ∼100 Mpc. Considering the examples of M32, NGC 4945 and NGC 4395 we investigate if extragalactic EMRB signals can provide information about their sources. This is possible, but only if the periapse radius of the orbit is small, of the order of r p 8r g, where r g = GM c − 2 is the gravitational radius of the MBH. This limits the utility of EMRBs as an astronomical tool. However, if we are lucky, we could place constraints on the mass and spin of nearby MBHs with 1 per cent precision.
ISSN:0035-8711
1365-2966
DOI:10.1093/mnras/stt990