A Systematic Search of Zwicky Transient Facility Data for Ultracompact Binary LISA-detectable Gravitational-wave Sources

Kevin B. Burdge, Thomas A. Prince, Jim Fuller, David L. Kaplan, Thomas R. Marsh, Pier Emmanuel Tremblay, Zhuyun Zhuang, Eric C. Bellm, Ilaria Caiazzo, Michael W. Coughlin, Vik S. Dhillon, Boris Gaensicke, Pablo Rodríguez-Gil, Matthew J. Graham, J. J. Hermes, Thomas Kupfer, S. P. Littlefair, Przemek Mróz, E. S. Phinney, Jan Van RoestelYuhan Yao, Richard G. Dekany, Andrew J. Drake, Dmitry A. Duev, David Hale, Michael Feeney, George Helou, Stephen Kaye, Ashish A. Mahabal, Frank J. Masci, Reed Riddle, Roger Smith, Maayane T. Soumagnac, S. R. Kulkarni

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Abstract

Using photometry collected with the Zwicky Transient Facility, we are conducting an ongoing survey for binary systems with short orbital periods (with the goal of identifying new gravitational-wave sources detectable by the upcoming Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). We present a sample of 15 binary systems discovered thus far, with orbital periods ranging from 6.91 to 56.35 minutes. Of the 15 systems, seven are eclipsing systems that do not show signs of significant mass transfer. Additionally, we have discovered two AM Canum Venaticorum systems and six systems exhibiting primarily ellipsoidal variations in their lightcurves. We present follow-up spectroscopy and high-speed photometry confirming the nature of these systems, estimates of their LISA signal-to-noise ratios, and a discussion of their physical characteristics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number32
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume905
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 10 2020

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