Gravitational waves from compact binaries

TL;DR

This paper reviews the development of gravitational wave detection from compact binaries, highlighting the role of LISA, LIGO, Virgo, and GEO, and discusses expected detection capabilities and scientific insights.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the history, current status, and future prospects of gravitational wave detection from compact binaries.

Findings

LISA will observe various stellar binaries upon activation.

Advanced detectors are expected to significantly increase detection rates.

Binary parameter estimation will improve with upcoming detectors.

Abstract

In this review, I give a summary of the history of our understanding of gravitational waves and how compact binaries were used to transform their status from mathematical artefact to physical reality. I also describe the types of compact (stellar) binaries that LISA will observe as soon as it is switched on. Finally, the status and near future of LIGO, Virgo and GEO are discussed, as well as the expected detection rates for the Advanced detectors, and the accuracies with which binary parameters can be determined when BH/NS inspirals are detected.