Gravity waves from relativistic binaries

TL;DR

This paper investigates relativistic binary orbits, especially homoclinic orbits, analyzing their stability, energy loss, and gravitational waveforms to improve understanding of signals detectable by future Earth-based interferometers.

Contribution

It extends the study of binary orbit stability by analyzing homoclinic orbits beyond circular assumptions, providing new insights into gravitational wave signals.

Findings

Homoclinic orbits identified as boundary between stability and instability.

Estimated energy loss rates for these orbits.

Computed gravitational waveforms for relativistic binaries.

Abstract

The stability of binary orbits can significantly shape the gravity wave signal which future Earth-based interferometers hope to detect. The inner most stable circular orbit has been of interest as it marks the transition from the late inspiral to final plunge. We consider purely relativistic orbits beyond the circular assumption. Homoclinic orbits are of particular importance to the question of stability as they lie on the boundary between dynamical stability and instability. We identify these, estimate their rate of energy loss to gravity waves, and compute their gravitational waveforms.