Predictions for the Rates of Compact Binary Coalescences Observable by Ground-based Gravitational-wave Detectors

TL;DR

This paper provides updated estimates of detection rates for various compact binary coalescences by ground-based gravitational-wave detectors, highlighting uncertainties and projections for current and future detector sensitivities.

Contribution

It offers the most comprehensive and recent rate predictions for all types of compact binary coalescences detectable by LIGO and Virgo, including conversions from astrophysical to detection rates.

Findings

Estimated coalescence rate for binary neutron stars: 100 per Myr per MWEG

Detection rate for initial detectors: 0.02 per year

Detection rate for advanced detectors: 40 per year

Abstract

We present an up-to-date, comprehensive summary of the rates for all types of compact binary coalescence sources detectable by the Initial and Advanced versions of the ground-based gravitational-wave detectors LIGO and Virgo. Astrophysical estimates for compact-binary coalescence rates depend on a number of assumptions and unknown model parameters, and are still uncertain. The most confident among these estimates are the rate predictions for coalescing binary neutron stars which are based on extrapolations from observed binary pulsars in our Galaxy. These yield a likely coalescence rate of 100 per Myr per Milky Way Equivalent Galaxy (MWEG), although the rate could plausibly range from 1 per Myr per MWEG to 1000 per Myr per MWEG. We convert coalescence rates into detection rates based on data from the LIGO S5 and Virgo VSR2 science runs and projected sensitivities for our Advanced detectors. Using the detector sensitivities derived from these data, we find a likely detection rate of 0.02 per year for Initial LIGO-Virgo interferometers, with a plausible range between 0.0002 and 0.2 per year. The likely binary neutron-star detection rate for the Advanced LIGO-Virgo network increases to 40 events per year, with a range between 0.4 and 400 per year.