Using Equation of State Constraints to Classify Low-Mass Compact Binary Mergers

Understand

Compact objects observed via gravitational waves are classified as black holes or neutron stars primarily based on their inferred mass with respect to stellar evolution expectations.

• However, astrophysical expectations for the lowest mass range, $\lesssim 1.2 \,M_\odot$, are uncertain.
• If such low-mass compact objects exist, ground-based gravitational wave detectors may observe them in binary mergers.
• Lacking astrophysical expectations for classifying such observations, we go beyond the mass and explore the role of tidal effects.