Eccentric Gravitational Wave Bursts in the Post-Newtonian Formalism

Understand

The detection of GW150914 by ground based gravitational wave observatories has brought about a new era in astrophysics.

• At optimal sensitivity, these observatories are expected to detect several events each year, with one or two of these occurring with non-negligible eccentricity.
• Such eccentric binaries will emit bursts of gravitational radiation during every pericenter passage, where orbital velocities can reach greater than ten percent the speed of light.
• As a result, such binaries may prove to be powerful probes of extreme gravitational physics and astrophysics.