Subtraction of the confusion foreground and parameter uncertainty of resolvable galactic binaries on the networks of space-based gravitational-wave detectors

TL;DR

This study investigates how networks of space-based gravitational-wave detectors can effectively subtract galactic binary foreground confusion, improving detection sensitivity and parameter estimation, and enhancing multi-messenger astronomy.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of the subtraction of galactic binary foregrounds using various detector networks and discusses the impact on parameter uncertainty and multi-messenger observations.

Findings

Detector networks reduce foreground confusion as more detectors are added.

Optimal detector combinations improve sensitivity and parameter estimation.

Electromagnetic detection significantly reduces uncertainties in GW parameter measurements.

Abstract

There are tens of millions of compact binary systems in the Milky Way, called galactic binaries (GBs), most of which are unresolved, and the Gravitational waves (GWs) emitted overlap to form foreground confusion. By simulating such foreground confusion, we have studied how LISA, Taiji and TianQin, including their alternative orbital configurations, subtract resolvable GBs when they combine as some networks. The results of our research indicate that the order of detected number for a single detector from high to low is: Taiji-m, Taiji-p (c), LISA, TianQin I, TianQin II. For detector combinations on the network, the foreground confusion is effectively reduced as the number of detectors grows, and the optimal combinations with different numbers are: Taiji-m, LISA+Taiji-m, LISA+Taiji-m+TianQin I, and LISA+Taiji-m+TianQin I+II. The sensitivity curve is optimized as the number of detectors increases, which renders it possible to detect other gravitational wave sources more precisely and decrease the resolvable GBs parameter uncertainty. Based on this, we discuss the parameter uncertainty of resolvable GBs detected by the combinations above and find that GW detection can promote electromagnetic (EM) detection. On the contrary, we discovered that by utilizing EM detection, determining the inclination angle can reduce the uncertainty of GW strain amplitude by $\sim$93%, and determining the sky position can reduce the uncertainty of the phase by $\sim$30%, further strengthening the connection between GW detection and EM detection, and contributing to the research of Multi-messenger astronomy.