Searches for Gravitational Waves from Binary Neutron Stars: A Review

TL;DR

This review discusses the current status and methods of searching for gravitational waves from neutron star binaries, highlighting the progress, challenges, and future prospects in gravitational wave astronomy.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of interferometric search techniques, instrumentation, and theoretical background for neutron star binary gravitational wave detection.

Findings

No detections yet, but observational limits have been established.

Instrumentation and analysis methods are continuously improving.

The field is progressing toward routine gravitational wave detection.

Abstract

A new generation of observatories is looking for gravitational waves. These waves, emitted by highly relativistic systems, will open a new window for ob- servation of the cosmos when they are detected. Among the most promising sources of gravitational waves for these observatories are compact binaries in the final min- utes before coalescence. In this article, we review in brief interferometric searches for gravitational waves emitted by neutron star binaries, including the theory, instru- mentation and methods. No detections have been made to date. However, the best direct observational limits on coalescence rates have been set, and instrumentation and analysis methods continue to be refined toward the ultimate goal of defining the new field of gravitational wave astronomy.