Extracting equation of state parameters from black hole-neutron star mergers: Nonspinning black holes

Benjamin D. Lackey, Koutarou Kyutoku, Masaru Shibata, Patrick R. Brady, and John L. Friedman
Phys. Rev. D 85, 044061 – Published 28 February 2012

Abstract

The late inspiral, merger, and ringdown of a black hole-neutron star (BHNS) system can provide information about the neutron-star equation of state (EOS). Candidate EOSs can be approximated by a parametrized piecewise-polytropic EOS above nuclear density, matched to a fixed low-density EOS; and we report results from a large set of BHNS inspiral simulations that systematically vary two parameters. To within the accuracy of the simulations, we find that, apart from the neutron-star mass, a single physical parameter Λ, describing its deformability, can be extracted from the late inspiral, merger, and ringdown waveform. This parameter is related to the radius, mass, and =2 Love number, k2, of the neutron star by Λ=2k2R5/3MNS5, and it is the same parameter that determines the departure from point-particle dynamics during the early inspiral. Observations of gravitational waves from BHNS inspiral thus restrict the EOS to a surface of constant Λ in the parameter space, thickened by the measurement error. Using various configurations of a single Advanced LIGO detector, we find that Λ1/5 or equivalently R can be extracted to 10–50% accuracy from single events for mass ratios of Q=2 and 3 at a distance of 100 Mpc, while with the proposed Einstein Telescope, EOS parameters can be extracted to accuracy an order of magnitude better.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
7 More
  • Received 15 September 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.85.044061

© 2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Benjamin D. Lackey1, Koutarou Kyutoku2, Masaru Shibata2, Patrick R. Brady1, and John L. Friedman1

  • 1Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, USA
  • 2Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan

See Also

Extracting equation of state parameters from black hole-neutron star mergers: Aligned-spin black holes and a preliminary waveform model

Benjamin D. Lackey, Koutarou Kyutoku, Masaru Shibata, Patrick R. Brady, and John L. Friedman
Phys. Rev. D 89, 043009 (2014)

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 85, Iss. 4 — 15 February 2012

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review D

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×