Multi-messenger Astrophysics of Black Holes and Neutron Stars as Probed by Ground-based Gravitational Wave Detectors: From Present to Future

TL;DR

This paper reviews how current and future ground-based gravitational wave detectors can advance multi-messenger astrophysics by studying black holes and neutron stars, highlighting recent discoveries and future prospects.

Contribution

It summarizes key open questions and potential discoveries in stellar-mass black holes and neutron stars using ground-based GW detectors, emphasizing future capabilities.

Findings

GW170817 demonstrated multi-messenger astronomy with GWs and electromagnetic signals

Ground-based GW detectors can answer key questions about black hole and neutron star populations

Future detectors will enable new multi-messenger discoveries

Abstract

The ground-based gravitational wave (GW) detectors LIGO and Virgo have enabled the birth of multi-messenger GW astronomy via the detection of GWs from merging stellar-mass black holes (BHs) and neutron stars (NSs). GW170817, the first binary NS merger detected in GWs and all bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, is an outstanding example of the impact that GW discoveries can have on multi-messenger astronomy. Yet, GW170817 is only one of the many and varied multi-messenger sources that can be unveiled using ground-based GW detectors. In this contribution, we summarize key open questions in the astrophysics of stellar-mass BHs and NSs that can be answered using current and future-generation ground-based GW detectors, and highlight the potential for new multi-messenger discoveries ahead.