Multi-messenger parameter inference of gravitational-wave and electromagnetic observations of white dwarf binaries

TL;DR

This paper develops a Bayesian inference pipeline to combine gravitational-wave data from LISA with electromagnetic observations of white dwarf binaries, enhancing parameter estimation accuracy.

Contribution

It introduces a novel Bayesian framework for joint gravitational and electromagnetic analysis of white dwarf binaries, improving parameter constraints.

Findings

LISA detections significantly improve electromagnetic parameter estimates.

Using LISA priors enhances constraints on binary system parameters.

Rules of thumb for future measurement improvements are provided.

Abstract

The upcoming Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will detect a large gravitational-wave foreground of Galactic white dwarf binaries. These sources are exceptional for their probable detection at electromagnetic wavelengths, some long before LISA flies. Studies in both gravitational and electromagnetic waves will yield strong constraints on system parameters not achievable through measurements of one messenger alone. In this work, we present a Bayesian inference pipeline and simulation suite in which we study potential constraints on binaries in a variety of configurations. We show how using LISA detections and parameter estimation can significantly improve constraints on system parameters when used as a prior for the electromagnetic analyses. We also provide rules of thumb for how current measurements will benefit from LISA measurements in the future.