Realistic event rates for detection of supermassive black hole coalescence by LISA

The gravitational waves generated during supermassive black hole (SMBH) coalescence are prime candidates for detection by the satellite LISA. We use the extended Press—Schechter formalism combined with empirically motivated estimates for the SMBH—dark matter halo mass relation and SMBH occupation fr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2005-08, Vol.361 (4), p.1145-1152
Main Authors: Rhook, Kirsty J., Wyithe, J. Stuart B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Artificial satellites
Astronomy
black hole physics
Black holes
Cosmology
cosmology: theory
gravitational waves
Gravity
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Summary:The gravitational waves generated during supermassive black hole (SMBH) coalescence are prime candidates for detection by the satellite LISA. We use the extended Press—Schechter formalism combined with empirically motivated estimates for the SMBH—dark matter halo mass relation and SMBH occupation fraction to estimate the maximum coalescence rate for major SMBH mergers. Assuming efficient binary coalescence, and guided by the lowest nuclear black hole mass inferred in local galactic bulges and nearby low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (≈105 M⊙), we predict approximately 15 detections per year at a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 5, in each of the inspiral and ringdown phases. Rare coalescences between SMBHs having masses in excess of 107 M⊙ will be more readily detected via gravitational waves from the ringdown phase.
ISSN:0035-8711
1365-2966
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2005.08987.x