Measuring spin in coalescing binaries of neutron stars showing double precursors

Understand

Gamma-ray bursts resulting from binary neutron-star mergers are sometimes preceded by precursor flares.

• These harbingers may be ignited by quasi-normal modes, excited by orbital resonances, shattering the stellar crust of one of the inspiralling stars up to $\gtrsim10$ seconds before coalescence.
• In the rare case that a system displays two precursors, successive overtones of either interface- or $g$-modes may be responsible for the overstrainings.
• Since the free-mode frequencies of these overtones have an almost constant ratio, and the inertial-frame frequencies for rotating stars are shifted relative to static ones, the spin frequency of the flaring component can be constrained as a function of the equation of state, the binary mass ratio, the mode quantum numbers, and the spin-orbit misalignment angle.