The gravitational capture of compact objects by massive black holes

TL;DR

This paper discusses the potential of various types of gravitational wave sources, including EMRIs, IMRIs, and XMRIs, as unique probes of strong-field gravity near supermassive black holes, detectable by future space observatories like LISA.

Contribution

It introduces and classifies different inspiral systems based on mass ratios, emphasizing their potential for mapping spacetime around supermassive black holes, a novel approach in relativistic astrophysics.

Findings

Identification of EMRIs, IMRIs, and XMRIs as key gravitational wave sources.

Highlighting the capability of future detectors like LISA to map warped spacetime.

Proposing these inspirals as unparalleled tools for studying strong gravity regimes.

Abstract

The gravitational capture of a stellar-mass compact object (CO) by a supermassive black hole is a unique probe of gravity in the strong field regime. Because of the large mass ratio, we call these sources extreme-mass ratio inspirals (EMRIs). In a similar manner, COs can be captured by intermediate-mass black holes in globular clusters or dwarf galaxies. The mass ratio in this case is lower, and hence we refer to the system as an intermediate-mass ratio inspiral (IMRI). Also, sub-stellar objects such as a brown dwarf, with masses much lighter than our Sun, can inspiral into supermassive black holes such as Sgr A* at our Galactic centre. In this case, the mass ratio is extremely large and, hence, we call this system ab extremely-large mass ratio inspirals (XMRIs). All of these sources of gravitational waves will provide us with a collection of snapshots of spacetime around a supermassive black hole that will allow us to do a direct mapping of warped spacetime around the supermassive black hole, a live cartography of gravity in this extreme gravity regime. E/I/XMRIs will be detected by the future space-borne observatories like LISA. There has not been any other probe conceived, planned or even thought of ever that can do the science that we can do with these inspirals. We will discuss them from a viewpoint of relativistic astrophysics.