Chirping compact stars: gravitational radiation and detection degeneracy with binaries

Compressible, Riemann S-type ellipsoids can emit gravitational waves (GWs) with a chirp-like behavior (hereafter chirping ellipsoids, CELs). We show that the GW frequency-amplitude evolution of CELs (mass similar to 1 Mp, radius similar to 103 km, polytropic equation of state with index n approximate to 3) is indistinguishable from that emitted by double white dwarfs and by extreme mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs) composed of an intermediate-mass (e.g. 103 Mp) black hole and a planet-like (e.g. 10-4 Mp) companion, in the frequency interval within the detector sensitivity band in which the GW emission of these systems is quasi-monochromatic. For reasonable astrophysical assumptions, the local universe density rate of CELs, double white dwarfs, and EMRIs in the mass range here considered are very similar, posing a detection-degeneracy challenge for space-based GW detectors. We outline the astrophysical implications of this CEL-binary detection degeneracy by space-based GW-detection facilities.

Automated summary

We find that the frequency-amplitude evolution of chirping ellipsoids is similar to that emitted by double white dwarfs and EMRIs, posing a challenge for space-based GW detectors to detect and differentiate these systems.