Spin-orbit misalignment in close binaries with two compact objects

Spin-orbit misalignment in coalescing compact binaries affects their gravitational radiation waveforms. When the misalignment angles are large (greater than or similar to 30 degrees), the detection efficiency of the coalescence events can decrease significantly if the misalignment effects are not modeled. In this paper, we consider the formation of close compact binaries and calculate the expected misalignment angles after the second core collapse event. Depending on the progenitor parameters and the assumptions made about supernova kicks, we find that 30%-80% of binaries containing a black hole and a neutron star that coalesce within 10(10) yr have misalignment angles larger than 30 degrees, and a significant fraction of them could remain undetected. The calculations allow us to place strong constraints on the progenitors of such binaries and the kick magnitudes required for their formation. We also discuss the formation of close binaries with two black holes and the effect of nonisotropic kicks.