Can a binary neutron star merger in the vicinity of a supermassive black hole enable a detection of a post-merger gravitational wave signal?

TL;DR

This paper explores how binary neutron star mergers near supermassive black holes could produce redshifted post-merger gravitational waves detectable by current or future observatories, enabling new insights into neutron star physics.

Contribution

It proposes a novel scenario where SMBH-induced redshift allows detection of post-merger signals otherwise too high in frequency, enhancing EOS constraints.

Findings

Redshift from SMBHs can stretch post-merger signals into detectable bands.

Such events could improve constraints on neutron star equations of state.

The study discusses potential mechanisms for SMBH-neutron star interactions.

Abstract

The postmerger gravitational-wave (GW) signal of a binary neutron star (BNS) merger is expected to contain valuable information that could shed light on the equation of state (EOS) of NSs, the properties of the matter produced during the merger, as well as the nature of any potential intermediate merger product such as hypermassive or supramassive NSs. However, the postmerger lies in the high frequency regime ($ \gtrsim 1000 $ Hz) where current LIGO-Virgo detectors are insensitive. While proposed detectors such as NEMO, Cosmic Explorer and Einstein Telescope could potentially detect the postmerger for BNSs within $\mathcal{O}(10~\mathrm{Mpc})$, such events are likely to be rare. In this work, we speculate on the possibility of detecting the postmerger from BNSs coalescing in the vicinity of supermassive black holes (SMBH). The redshift produced by the gravitational field of the SMBH, as well as the BNS's proper motion around the SMBH, could effectively "stretch" the postmerger signal into the band of the detectors. We demonstrate, using a phenomenological model, that such BNS coalescences would enable constraints on the peak of the postmerger signal that would otherwise have not been possible, provided the degree of redshifting due to the SMBH can be independently acquired. We further show how such mergers would improve EOS model selection using the postmerger signal. We discuss the mechanisms that might deliver such events, and the limitations of this work.