Deep learning to detect gravitational waves from binary close encounters: Fast parameter estimation using normalizing flows

Understand

A yet undetected class of GW signals is represented by the close encounters between compact objects in highly-eccentric e~1 orbits, that can occur in binary systems formed in dense environments such as globular clusters.

• The expected gravitational signals are short-duration pulses that would repeat over a much longer time scale in case of multiple passages at periastron.
• These sources represent a unique opportunity of exploring astrophysical formation channels as well as a different way of testing GR.
• In the case of binary systems containing neutron stars, the observation of these sources could help to constrain the EOS, thanks to the signature left in the GW signal by the f-modes excitation that can occur during the encounter.