Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-20-1999
Abstract
Space-based gravitational wave detectors will have the ability to observe continuous low-frequency gravitational radiation from binary star systems. They can determine the direction to continuous sources with an angular resolution approaching tens of arcminutes. This resolution should be sufficient to identify binary sources as members of some nearby globular clusters. Thus, gravitational radiation can be used to determine the population of hard binaries in globular clusters. For particularly hard binaries, the orbital period may change as a result of gravitational wave emission. If one of these binaries can be identified with a globular cluster, then the distance to that cluster can be determined. Thus, gravitational radiation may provide reddening-independent distance measurements to globular clusters and the RR Lyrae stars that inhabit them.
Recommended Citation
M. Benacquista, et. al., (1999) Gravitational radiation from globular clusters.Astrophysical Journal520:1233. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1086/307425
First Page
233
Last Page
238
Publication Title
Astrophysical Journal
DOI
10.1086/307425
Comments
© Astrophysical Journal. Original version available at: http://doi.org/10.1086/307425