Binary intermediate-mass black hole mergers in globular clusters

Understand

We consider the formation of binary intermediate black holes (BIMBH) in globular clusters (GC), which could happen either in situ or due to the mergers between clusters.

• We simulate the evolution of the BIMBH orbit (and its subsequent merger) due to stellar ejections.
• We also take into account the evaporation of GCs due to the tidal field of the host galaxy and two-body relaxation.
• Our results show that if at least $10^{-3}$ of all GCs become BIMBH hosts and the BIMBH masses are $\sim1\%$ of the GC mass, at least one of the inspiralling (or merging) BIMBHs will be detected by LISA during its 4-year mission lifetime.