English

Gravitational Wave Strain and Orbital Dynamics of Binary Pulsars from LIGO-Virgo to LISA

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena 2026-01-16 v1

Abstract

We summarize the current state of the art and calculate gravitational wave strain amplitudes for known binary pulsars, using data from current ground-based detectors (LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA) and the upcoming space-based missions (LISA). We present detailed calculations of the characteristic gravitational wave strain values, ranging from 3.0 to 73 ×1022\times10^{-22}, across frequencies between 0.66 and 5.87 ×104\times10^{-4} Hz. Our post-Newtonian approximation analysis yields predicted periastron advance rates from 1.6 to 80.5 deg/yr and orbital period decay rates between -5 and -176 μ\mus/yr for the binary pulsar population. We derive common envelope efficiency parameters (αCE\alpha_{CE}) for representative progenitor scenarios within our sample, finding values between 0.63 and 1.16, with notable sensitivity to the binding energy parameter λ\lambda. Binary neutron star merger rates are estimated at 22.776.83+6.8322.77^{+6.83}_{-6.83} Myr1^{-1} for the Milky Way, corresponding to a volumetric rate of 227.7168.31+68.31227.71^{+68.31}_{-68.31} Gpc3^{-3} yr1^{-1}, consistent with the latest LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA observational constraints. Our results illustrate how multi-band gravitational wave observations, from LIGO/Virgo to LISA, can contribute to precise measurements of binary pulsar strain and orbital evolution histories, improving merger time predictions and constraining neutron star physics and common envelope processes

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2601.09863,
  title  = {Gravitational Wave Strain and Orbital Dynamics of Binary Pulsars from LIGO-Virgo to LISA},
  author = {Ali Taani},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.09863},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

published by The European Physical Journal Plus, 2026, 141 (1), 21