Modeling the Galactic Neutron Star Population for Use in Continuous Gravitational Wave Searches

TL;DR

This paper models the distribution of Galactic neutron stars to estimate how many could be detected via continuous gravitational waves, aiding the optimization of future searches with advanced detectors.

Contribution

It introduces a simple model of neutron star spatial and spin distribution to estimate the number of stars detectable by gravitational wave searches.

Findings

Third-generation detectors could probe 100-1000 times more neutron stars.

The model helps optimize future gravitational wave searches.

Estimates the total number of neutron stars within reach based on ellipticity limits.

Abstract

Searches for continuous gravitational waves from \textit{unknown} Galactic neutron stars provide limits on the shapes of neutron stars. A rotating neutron star will produce gravitational waves if asymmetric deformations exist in its structure that are characterized by the star's ellipticity. In this study, we use a simple model of the spatial and spin distribution of Galactic neutron stars to estimate the total number of neutron stars probed, using gravitational waves, to a given upper limit on the ellipticity. This may help optimize future searches with improved sensitivity. The improved sensitivity of third-generation gravitational wave detectors may increase the number of neutron stars probed, to a given ellipticity, by factors of 100 to 1000.