Black Hole-Neutron Star Mergers in Globular Clusters

Understand

We model the formation of black hole-neutron star (BH-NS) binaries via dynamical interactions in globular clusters.

• We find that in dense, massive clusters, 16-61% of the BH-NS binaries formed by interactions with existing BH binaries will undergo mergers driven by the emission of gravitational radiation.
• If the BHs are retained by the cluster after merging with a NS, the BHs acquire subsequent NS companions and undergo several mergers.
• Thus, the merger rate depends critically upon whether or not the BH is retained by the cluster after the merger.