Work

Detection of Gravitational Wave Emission by Supermassive Black Hole Binaries Through Tidal Disruption Flares

Year: 2016

Type: article

Abstract: Galaxy mergers produce supermassive black hole binaries, which emit gravitational waves prior to their coalescence. We perform three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations to study the tidal disruption of stars by such a binary in the final centuries of its life. We find that the gas stream of the stellar debris moves chaotically in the binary potential and forms accretion disks around both black holes. The accretion light curve is modulated over the binary orbital period owing to relativistic beaming. This periodic signal allows to detect the decay of the binary orbit due to gravitational wave emission by observing two tidal disruption events that are separated by more than a decade.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/srep35629

Authors: Kimitake Hayasaki, Abraham Loeb

Institutions: Chungbuk National University, Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian

Language: English

Topic: Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,690

Funders: National Science Foundation, Chungbuk National University, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute