Wave-optical effects in the microlensing of continuous gravitational waves by star clusters

Understand

Rapidly rotating neutron stars are promising sources for existing and upcoming gravitational-wave interferometers.

• While relatively dim, these systems are expected to emit continuously, allowing for signal to be accumulated through persistent monitoring over year-long timescales.
• If, at some point during the observational window, the source comes to lie behind a dense collection of stars, transient gravitational lensing may occur.
• Such events, though rare, would modulate the waveform, induce phase drifts, and ultimately affect parameter inferences concerning the nuclear equation of state and/or magnetic field structure of the neutron star.