Nuclear constraints on gravitational waves from rapidly rotating neutron stars

TL;DR

This paper uses nuclear physics constraints to estimate the maximum gravitational wave strain from rapidly rotating neutron stars, linking nuclear data with astrophysical observations.

Contribution

It introduces a method to constrain gravitational wave emission using nuclear equation of state data constrained by laboratory experiments.

Findings

Set an upper limit on gravitational wave strain amplitude

Linked nuclear symmetry energy data with neutron star gravitational wave predictions

Provided a framework for future observational constraints

Abstract

Gravitational waves are tiny disturbances in space-time and are a fundamental, although not yet directly confirmed, prediction of General Relativity. Rapidly rotating neutron stars are one of the possible sources of gravitational radiation dependent upon pulsar's rotational frequency, details of the equation of state of stellar matter, and distance to detector. Applying an equation of state with symmetry energy constrained by recent nuclear laboratory data, we set an upper limit on the strain-amplitude of gravitational waves emitted by rapidly rotating neutron stars.