Detecting Stellar Lensing of Gravitational Waves with Ground-Based Observatories

Understand

We investigate the ability of ground based gravitational wave observatories to detect gravitational wave lensing events caused by stellar mass lenses.

• We show that LIGO and Virgo possess the sensitivities required to detect lenses with masses as small as $\sim 30 M_\odot$ provided that the gravitational wave is observed with a signal-to-noise ratio of $\sim30$.
• Third generation observatories will allow detection of gravitational wave lenses with masses of $\sim 1 M_\odot$.
• Finally, we discuss the possibility of lensing by multiple stars, as is the case if the gravitational radiation is passing through galactic nucleus or a dense star cluster.