How loud are echoes from exotic compact objects?

The first direct observations of gravitational waves by the LIGO collaboration have motivated different tests of general relativity (GR), including the search for extra pulses following the GR waveform for the coalescence of compact objects. The motivation for these searches comes from the alternative proposal that the final compact object could differ from a black hole by the lack of an event horizon and a central singularity. Such objects are expected in theories that, motivated by quantum gravity modifications, predict horizonless objects as the final stage of gravitational collapse. In such a hypothetical case, this exotic compact object (ECO) will present a (partially) reflective surface at r(ECO) = r(+)(1+is an element of), instead of an event horizon at r(+). For this class of objects, an in-falling wave will not be completely lost and will give rise to secondary pulses, to which recent literature refers as echoes. However, the largely unknown ECO reflectivity is determinant for the amplitude of the signal, and details also depend on the initial conditions of the progenitor compact binary. Here, for the first time, we obtain estimates for the detectability of the first echo, using a perturbative description for the inspiral-merger-ringdown waveform and a physically motivated ECO reflectivity. Binaries with comparable masses will have a stronger first echo, improving the chances of detection. For a case like GW150914, the detection of the first echo will require a minimum ringdown signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the range similar to 20-60. The most optimistic scenario for echo detection could already be probed by LIGO in the next years. With the expected improvements in sensitivity we estimate one or two events per year to have the required SNR for the first echo detection during O4.

Automated summary

The first direct observations of gravitational waves by the LIGO collaboration have led to different tests of general relativity. One of these tests involves searching for extra pulses following the gravitational waveform. A new study provides estimates for the detectability of the first echo, suggesting that it may be detected by LIGO in the next few years.