Detecting gravitational waves from accreting neutron stars

TL;DR

This paper discusses the challenges and potential strategies for detecting gravitational waves from accreting neutron stars, emphasizing the importance of optimized search methods to improve astrophysical insights.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of detection hurdles and proposes feasible search approaches for accreting millisecond pulsars to better understand neutron star physics.

Findings

Feasible searches for gravitational waves from accreting millisecond pulsars are identified.

Uncertainty in neutron star parameters complicates direct detection efforts.

Optimistic emission scenarios could allow meaningful constraints on torque mechanisms.

Abstract

The gravitational waves emitted by neutron stars carry unique information about their structure and composition. Direct detection of these gravitational waves, however, is a formidable technical challenge. In a recent study we quantified the hurdles facing searches for gravitational waves from the known accreting neutron stars, given the level of uncertainty that exists regarding spin and orbital parameters. In this paper we reflect on our conclusions, and issue an open challenge to the theoretical community to consider how searches should be designed to yield the most astrophysically interesting upper limits. With this in mind we examine some more optimistic emission scenarios involving spin-down, and show that there are technically feasible searches, particularly for the accreting millisecond pulsars, that might place meaningful constraints on torque mechanisms. We finish with a brief discussion of prospects for indirect detection.