TY - JOUR
T1 - The missing link in gravitational-wave astronomy
T2 - Discoveries waiting in the decihertz range
AU - Sedda, Manuel Arca
AU - Berry, Christopher P.L.
AU - Jani, Karan
AU - Amaro-Seoane, Pau
AU - Auclair, Pierre
AU - Baird, Jonathon
AU - Baker, Tessa
AU - Berti, Emanuele
AU - Breivik, Katelyn
AU - Burrows, Adam
AU - Caprini, Chiara
AU - Chen, Xian
AU - Doneva, Daniela
AU - Ezquiaga, Jose M.
AU - Saavik Ford, K. E.
AU - Katz, Michael L.
AU - Kolkowitz, Shimon
AU - McKernan, Barry
AU - Mueller, Guido
AU - Nardini, Germano
AU - Pikovski, Igor
AU - Rajendran, Surjeet
AU - Sesana, Alberto
AU - Shao, Lijing
AU - Tamanini, Nicola
AU - Vartanyan, David
AU - Warburton, Niels
AU - Witek, Helvi
AU - Wong, Kaze
AU - Zevin, Michael
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 IOP Publishing Ltd.
PY - 2020/11/5
Y1 - 2020/11/5
N2 - The gravitational-wave astronomical revolution began in 2015 with LIGO’s observation of the coalescence of two stellar-mass black holes. Over the coming decades, ground-based detectors like laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatory (LIGO), Virgo and KAGRA will extend their reach, discovering thousands of stellar-mass binaries. In the 2030s, the space-based laser interferometer space antenna (LISA) will enable gravitational-wave observations of the massive black holes in galactic centres. Between ground-based observatories and LISA lies the unexplored dHz gravitational-wave frequency band. Here, we show the potential of a decihertz observatory (DO) which could cover this band, and complement discoveries made by other gravitational-wave observatories. The dHz range is uniquely suited to observation of intermediate-mass (∼102–104M☉) black holes, which may form the missing link between stellar-mass and massive black holes, offering an opportunity to measure their properties. DOs will be able to detect stellar-mass binaries days to years before they merge and are observed by ground-based detectors, providing early warning of nearby binary neutron star mergers, and enabling measurements of the eccentricity of binary black holes, providing revealing insights into their formation. Observing dHz gravitational-waves also opens the possibility of testing fundamental physics in a new laboratory, permitting unique tests of general relativity (GR) and the standard model of particle physics. Overall, a DO would answer outstanding questions about how black holes form and evolve across cosmic time, open new avenues for multimessenger astronomy, and advance our understanding of gravitation, particle physics and cosmology.
AB - The gravitational-wave astronomical revolution began in 2015 with LIGO’s observation of the coalescence of two stellar-mass black holes. Over the coming decades, ground-based detectors like laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatory (LIGO), Virgo and KAGRA will extend their reach, discovering thousands of stellar-mass binaries. In the 2030s, the space-based laser interferometer space antenna (LISA) will enable gravitational-wave observations of the massive black holes in galactic centres. Between ground-based observatories and LISA lies the unexplored dHz gravitational-wave frequency band. Here, we show the potential of a decihertz observatory (DO) which could cover this band, and complement discoveries made by other gravitational-wave observatories. The dHz range is uniquely suited to observation of intermediate-mass (∼102–104M☉) black holes, which may form the missing link between stellar-mass and massive black holes, offering an opportunity to measure their properties. DOs will be able to detect stellar-mass binaries days to years before they merge and are observed by ground-based detectors, providing early warning of nearby binary neutron star mergers, and enabling measurements of the eccentricity of binary black holes, providing revealing insights into their formation. Observing dHz gravitational-waves also opens the possibility of testing fundamental physics in a new laboratory, permitting unique tests of general relativity (GR) and the standard model of particle physics. Overall, a DO would answer outstanding questions about how black holes form and evolve across cosmic time, open new avenues for multimessenger astronomy, and advance our understanding of gravitation, particle physics and cosmology.
KW - Compact binaries
KW - Decihertz observatories
KW - Early universe physics
KW - Gravitational-wave detectors
KW - Intermediate-mass black holes
KW - Multiband gravitational-wave astronomy
KW - Tests of general relativity
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U2 - 10.1088/1361-6382/abb5c1
DO - 10.1088/1361-6382/abb5c1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85093109357
SN - 0264-9381
VL - 37
JO - Classical and Quantum Gravity
JF - Classical and Quantum Gravity
IS - 21
M1 - 215011
ER -