Three new high-state AM CVn binaries are discovered, giving a local space density of about 1 to 3 per 10^8 cubic parsecs and LISA detection estimates near 36% of the Galactic population.
A systematic search of Zwicky Transient Facility data for ultracompact binary LISA-detectable gravitational-wave sources
1 Pith paper cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
abstract
Using photometry collected with the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), we are conducting an ongoing survey for binary systems with short orbital periods ($P_{\rm b}<1\rm \,hr)$ with the goal of identifying new gravitational-wave sources detectable by the upcoming Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). Here, we present a sample of fifteen binary systems discovered thus far, with orbital periods ranging from $6.91\rm\,min$ to $56.35\rm\,min$. Of the fifteen systems, seven are eclipsing systems which do not show signs of significant mass transfer. Additionally, we have discovered two AM Canum Venaticorum (AM CVn) systems and six systems exhibiting primarily ellipsoidal variations in their light curves. We present follow-up spectroscopy and high-speed photometry confirming the nature of these systems, estimates of their LISA signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), and a discussion of their physical characteristics.
fields
astro-ph.SR 1years
2026 1verdicts
CONDITIONAL 1representative citing papers
citing papers explorer
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A survey of ultra-compact high-state AM CVn binaries with ZTF and Gaia: New discoveries and observational constraints on Galactic space density
Three new high-state AM CVn binaries are discovered, giving a local space density of about 1 to 3 per 10^8 cubic parsecs and LISA detection estimates near 36% of the Galactic population.