# Gravitational-wave detection rates for compact binaries formed in isolation: LIGO/Virgo O3 and beyond

## TL;DR

This paper estimates the detection rates of compact binary mergers formed in isolation for current and future gravitational-wave detectors, analyzing how stellar physics uncertainties impact these rates and discussing prospects with third-generation observatories.

## Contribution

It provides new estimates of merger and detection rates incorporating uncertainties in stellar physics and explores future detector capabilities.

## Key findings

- Detection rates increase with detector upgrades.
- Stellar physics uncertainties significantly affect rate estimates.
- Third-generation detectors will reveal detailed merger rate features.

## Abstract

Using simulations performed with the population synthesis code MOBSE, we compute the merger rate densities and detection rates of compact binary mergers formed in isolation for second- and third-generation gravitational-wave detectors. We estimate how rates are affected by uncertainties on key stellar-physics parameters, namely common envelope evolution and natal kicks. We estimate how future upgrades will increase the size of the available catalog of merger events, and we discuss features of the merger rate density that will become accessible with third-generation detectors.