The deci-Hz gravitational wave signal from the collapse of rotating very massive stars

TL;DR

This paper predicts a strong deci-Hz gravitational wave signal from collapsing rotating very massive stars, which could be detected by future deci-Hz detectors up to 200 Mpc away.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed calculation of gravitational waves from the collapse of a rotating 300 solar mass star in the pair-instability regime.

Findings

Deci-Hz signals have a characteristic shape suitable for template searches.

Future deci-Hz detectors could detect these signals up to 200 Mpc.

Estimated detection rate is about 0.5 events per year.

Abstract

We calculate the gravitational wave signal from the collapse of a rotating 300 $M_\odot$ star at the upper end of the pair-instability regime. The large-scale asymmetries that develop during the collapse produce a strong signal in the deci-Hz range that has a characteristic shape which is likely amenable to a template-based search. The most ambitious designs for deci-Hz detectors could detect such signals out to distances of 200 Mpc, possibly at a rate of 0.5 per year.