Prospects for the Observation of Continuous Gravitational Waves from Spinning Neutron Stars Lensed by the Galactic Supermassive Black Hole
We study the prospects of detecting continuous gravitational waves (CGWs) from spinning neutron stars (NSs), gravitationally lensed by the galactic supermassive black hole. Assuming various astrophysically motivated spatial distributions of galactic NSs, we find that CGW signals from a few (∼0–6) ne...
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IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/acab50 |
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author | Soummyadip Basak Aditya Kumar Sharma Shasvath J. Kapadia Parameswaran Ajith |
author_facet | Soummyadip Basak Aditya Kumar Sharma Shasvath J. Kapadia Parameswaran Ajith |
author_sort | Soummyadip Basak |
collection | DOAJ |
description | We study the prospects of detecting continuous gravitational waves (CGWs) from spinning neutron stars (NSs), gravitationally lensed by the galactic supermassive black hole. Assuming various astrophysically motivated spatial distributions of galactic NSs, we find that CGW signals from a few (∼0–6) neutron stars should be strongly lensed. Lensing will produce two copies of the signal (with time delays of seconds to minutes) that will interfere with each other. The relative motion of the NS with respect to the lensing optical axis will change the interference pattern, which will help us to identify a lensed signal. Accounting for the magnifications and time delays of the lensed signals, we investigate their detectability by ground-based detectors. Modeling the spin distribution of NSs based on that of known pulsars and assuming an ellipticity of ϵ = 10 ^−7 , lensed CGWs are unlikely to be detectable by LIGO and Virgo in realistic searches involving ${ \mathcal O }({10}^{12})$ templates. However, third-generation detectors have a ∼2%–51% probability of detecting at least one lensed CGW signal. For an ellipticity of ϵ = 10 ^−8 , the detection probability reduces to ∼0%–18%. Though rare, such an observation will enable interesting probes of the supermassive black hole and its environment. |
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spelling | doaj.art-f7204c94d27047a6b28e25fb48c9394d2023-09-03T13:08:51ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal Letters2041-82052023-01-019422L3110.3847/2041-8213/acab50Prospects for the Observation of Continuous Gravitational Waves from Spinning Neutron Stars Lensed by the Galactic Supermassive Black HoleSoummyadip Basak0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1824-3292Aditya Kumar Sharma1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0067-346XShasvath J. Kapadia2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5318-1253Parameswaran Ajith3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7519-2439International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research , Bangalore 560089, India ; aditya.sharma@icts.res.inInternational Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research , Bangalore 560089, India ; aditya.sharma@icts.res.inInternational Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research , Bangalore 560089, India ; aditya.sharma@icts.res.inInternational Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research , Bangalore 560089, India ; aditya.sharma@icts.res.in; Canadian Institute for Advanced Research , CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar, MaRS Centre, West Tower, 661 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, CanadaWe study the prospects of detecting continuous gravitational waves (CGWs) from spinning neutron stars (NSs), gravitationally lensed by the galactic supermassive black hole. Assuming various astrophysically motivated spatial distributions of galactic NSs, we find that CGW signals from a few (∼0–6) neutron stars should be strongly lensed. Lensing will produce two copies of the signal (with time delays of seconds to minutes) that will interfere with each other. The relative motion of the NS with respect to the lensing optical axis will change the interference pattern, which will help us to identify a lensed signal. Accounting for the magnifications and time delays of the lensed signals, we investigate their detectability by ground-based detectors. Modeling the spin distribution of NSs based on that of known pulsars and assuming an ellipticity of ϵ = 10 ^−7 , lensed CGWs are unlikely to be detectable by LIGO and Virgo in realistic searches involving ${ \mathcal O }({10}^{12})$ templates. However, third-generation detectors have a ∼2%–51% probability of detecting at least one lensed CGW signal. For an ellipticity of ϵ = 10 ^−8 , the detection probability reduces to ∼0%–18%. Though rare, such an observation will enable interesting probes of the supermassive black hole and its environment.https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/acab50Strong gravitational lensingGravitational wavesGeneral relativityGravitational wave astronomyGravitational wave sourcesNeutron stars |
spellingShingle | Soummyadip Basak Aditya Kumar Sharma Shasvath J. Kapadia Parameswaran Ajith Prospects for the Observation of Continuous Gravitational Waves from Spinning Neutron Stars Lensed by the Galactic Supermassive Black Hole The Astrophysical Journal Letters Strong gravitational lensing Gravitational waves General relativity Gravitational wave astronomy Gravitational wave sources Neutron stars |
title | Prospects for the Observation of Continuous Gravitational Waves from Spinning Neutron Stars Lensed by the Galactic Supermassive Black Hole |
title_full | Prospects for the Observation of Continuous Gravitational Waves from Spinning Neutron Stars Lensed by the Galactic Supermassive Black Hole |
title_fullStr | Prospects for the Observation of Continuous Gravitational Waves from Spinning Neutron Stars Lensed by the Galactic Supermassive Black Hole |
title_full_unstemmed | Prospects for the Observation of Continuous Gravitational Waves from Spinning Neutron Stars Lensed by the Galactic Supermassive Black Hole |
title_short | Prospects for the Observation of Continuous Gravitational Waves from Spinning Neutron Stars Lensed by the Galactic Supermassive Black Hole |
title_sort | prospects for the observation of continuous gravitational waves from spinning neutron stars lensed by the galactic supermassive black hole |
topic | Strong gravitational lensing Gravitational waves General relativity Gravitational wave astronomy Gravitational wave sources Neutron stars |
url | https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/acab50 |
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