Continuous gravitational waves from neutron stars: current status and prospects

TL;DR

This paper reviews the current status and future prospects of detecting continuous gravitational waves emitted by neutron stars, which can reveal extreme matter properties and test fundamental physics.

Contribution

It provides an overview of astrophysical motivations, data analysis strategies, and future prospects for continuous gravitational wave searches from neutron stars.

Findings

Current LIGO and Virgo data analysis strategies are summarized.

Continuous gravitational waves can originate from various neutron star mechanisms.

The paper discusses future detection prospects and scientific implications.

Abstract

Gravitational waves astronomy allows us to study objects and events invisible in electromagnetic waves. It is crucial to validate the theories and models of the most mysterious and extreme matter in the Universe: the neutron stars. In addition to inspirals and mergers of neutrons stars, there are currently a few proposed mechanisms that can trigger radiation of long-lasting gravitational radiation from neutron stars, such as e.g., elastically and/or magnetically driven deformations: mountains on the stellar surface supported by the elastic strain or magnetic field, free precession, or unstable oscillation modes (e.g., the r-modes). The astrophysical motivation for continuous gravitational waves searches, current LIGO and Virgo strategies of data analysis and prospects are reviewed in this work.