Insights into the Milky Way pulsar–black hole population using radio and gravitational wave observations. (arXiv:2109.04512v1 [astro-ph.HE])
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Pol_N/0/1/0/all/0/1">Nihan Pol</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+McLaughlin_M/0/1/0/all/0/1">Maura McLaughlin</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Lorimer_D/0/1/0/all/0/1">Duncan Lorimer</a>
The detection of two NS–BH mergers by LIGO-Virgo provided the first direct
confirmation of the existence of this type of system in the Universe. These
detections also imply the existence of pulsar–black hole (PSR–BH) systems. In
this analysis, we use the non-detection of any PSR–BH systems in current radio
surveys to estimate a 95% upper limit of $sim$150 PSR–BH binary systems that
are beaming towards the Earth in the Milky Way. This corresponds to a 95%
upper limit of $mathcal{R}_{rm LIGO} = 7.6$~yr$^{-1}$ on the merger detection
rate for the LIGO-Virgo network scaled to a range distance of 100~Mpc, which is
consistent with the rates derived by LIGO-Virgo. In addition, for the first
time, we use the merger detection rates estimate by LIGO-Virgo to predict the
number of detectable PSR–BH systems in the Milky Way. We find there to be
$left< N_{rm obs, NSBH, e} right> = 2^{+5}_{-1}$ and $left< N_{rm obs,
NSBH, p} right> = 6^{+7}_{-4}$ detectable PSR–BH systems in the Milky Way
corresponding to the event-based and population-based merger detection rates
estimated by LIGO-Virgo respectively. We estimate the probability of detecting
these PSR–BH systems with current radio pulsar surveys, showing that the
Arecibo PALFA survey has the highest probability of detecting a PSR–BH system,
while surveys with recently commissioned and planned telescopes are almost
guaranteed to detect one of these systems. Finally, we discuss the hurdles in
detecting PSR–BH systems and how these can be overcome in the future.
The detection of two NS–BH mergers by LIGO-Virgo provided the first direct
confirmation of the existence of this type of system in the Universe. These
detections also imply the existence of pulsar–black hole (PSR–BH) systems. In
this analysis, we use the non-detection of any PSR–BH systems in current radio
surveys to estimate a 95% upper limit of $sim$150 PSR–BH binary systems that
are beaming towards the Earth in the Milky Way. This corresponds to a 95%
upper limit of $mathcal{R}_{rm LIGO} = 7.6$~yr$^{-1}$ on the merger detection
rate for the LIGO-Virgo network scaled to a range distance of 100~Mpc, which is
consistent with the rates derived by LIGO-Virgo. In addition, for the first
time, we use the merger detection rates estimate by LIGO-Virgo to predict the
number of detectable PSR–BH systems in the Milky Way. We find there to be
$left< N_{rm obs, NSBH, e} right> = 2^{+5}_{-1}$ and $left< N_{rm obs,
NSBH, p} right> = 6^{+7}_{-4}$ detectable PSR–BH systems in the Milky Way
corresponding to the event-based and population-based merger detection rates
estimated by LIGO-Virgo respectively. We estimate the probability of detecting
these PSR–BH systems with current radio pulsar surveys, showing that the
Arecibo PALFA survey has the highest probability of detecting a PSR–BH system,
while surveys with recently commissioned and planned telescopes are almost
guaranteed to detect one of these systems. Finally, we discuss the hurdles in
detecting PSR–BH systems and how these can be overcome in the future.
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