Gravitational waves from inspiralling compact binaries: Energy loss and waveform to second-post-Newtonian order

Luc Blanchet, Thibault Damour, and Bala R. Iyer
Phys. Rev. D 51, 5360 – Published 15 May 1995; Erratum Phys. Rev. D 54, 1860 (1996)
PDFExport Citation

Abstract

Gravitational waves generated by inspiralling compact binaries are investigated to the second-post-Newtonian (2PN) approximation of general relativity. Using a recently developed 2PN-accurate wave generation formalism, we compute the gravitational waveform and associated energy loss rate from a binary system of point masses moving on a quasicircular orbit. The crucial new input is our computation of the 2PN-accurate ‘‘source’’ quadrupole moment of the binary. Tails in both the waveform and energy loss rate at infinity are explicitly computed. Gravitational radiation reaction effects on the orbital frequency and phase of the binary are deduced from the energy loss. In the limiting case of a very small mass ratio between the two bodies we recover the results obtained by black hole perturbation methods. We find that finite mass ratio effects are very significant as they increase the 2PN contribution to the phase by up to 52%. The results of this paper should be of use when deciphering the signals observed by the future LIGO-VIRGO network of gravitational-wave detectors.

  • Received 20 January 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.51.5360

©1995 American Physical Society

Erratum

Authors & Affiliations

Luc Blanchet

  • Département d’Astrophysique Relativiste et de Cosmologie, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (UPR 176), Observatoire de Paris, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France

Thibault Damour

  • Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques, 91440 Bures sur Yvette, France, and Département d’Astrophysique Relativiste et de Cosmologie, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (UPR 176), Observatoire de Paris, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France

Bala R. Iyer

  • Raman Research Institute, Bangalore 560080, India

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 51, Iss. 10 — 15 May 1995

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review D

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×