A Multimessenger Mass Determination Method for LISA Neutron Star–White Dwarf Binaries

Determining the masses of neutron stars (NSs) accurately improves our understanding of the NS interior and complicated binary evolution. However, the masses of the systems are degenerate with the orbital inclination angle when using solely gravitational waves (GWs) or electromagnetic measurements, e...

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Main Authors: Kaye Jiale Li, Jane SiNan Long, Kinwah Wu, Albert K. H. Kong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adc0fd
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author Kaye Jiale Li
Jane SiNan Long
Kinwah Wu
Albert K. H. Kong
author_facet Kaye Jiale Li
Jane SiNan Long
Kinwah Wu
Albert K. H. Kong
author_sort Kaye Jiale Li
collection DOAJ
description Determining the masses of neutron stars (NSs) accurately improves our understanding of the NS interior and complicated binary evolution. However, the masses of the systems are degenerate with the orbital inclination angle when using solely gravitational waves (GWs) or electromagnetic measurements, especially for face-on binaries. Taking advantage of both GWs and optical observations for LISA NS–white dwarf (WD) binaries, we propose a mass determination method utilising multimessenger observational information. By combining the binary mass function obtained from optical observations and a GW mass function, which we introduce, derived from GW observations, we demonstrate how we can set improved constraints on the NS mass and break the degeneracy in the mass and viewing inclination determination. We further comment on the universal relation of the error bar of the GW mass function versus the GW signal-to-noise ratio and propose a simple method for estimating the capability of using GW observations for mass determination with LISA. We show that for ultracompact NS–WD binaries within our Galaxy, the mass of the NS can be constrained to within an accuracy of  ±0.2 M _⊙ with the proposed method.
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spelling doaj-art-b4efbcc4a34c437ca34ff367ab3076092025-08-20T02:12:11ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-0198414110.3847/1538-4357/adc0fdA Multimessenger Mass Determination Method for LISA Neutron Star–White Dwarf BinariesKaye Jiale Li0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1657-0265Jane SiNan Long1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2126-0050Kinwah Wu2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7568-8765Albert K. H. Kong3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5105-344XMullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London , Holmbury St Mary, Surrey, RH5 6NT, UK ; j-li.19@ucl.ac.uk, sinan.long.23@ucl.ac.ukMullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London , Holmbury St Mary, Surrey, RH5 6NT, UK ; j-li.19@ucl.ac.uk, sinan.long.23@ucl.ac.uk; Institute of Astronomy, National Tsing Hua University , Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan (ROC) ; akong@gapp.nthu.edu.twMullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London , Holmbury St Mary, Surrey, RH5 6NT, UK ; j-li.19@ucl.ac.uk, sinan.long.23@ucl.ac.uk; Institute of Astronomy, National Tsing Hua University , Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan (ROC) ; akong@gapp.nthu.edu.twInstitute of Astronomy, National Tsing Hua University , Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan (ROC) ; akong@gapp.nthu.edu.twDetermining the masses of neutron stars (NSs) accurately improves our understanding of the NS interior and complicated binary evolution. However, the masses of the systems are degenerate with the orbital inclination angle when using solely gravitational waves (GWs) or electromagnetic measurements, especially for face-on binaries. Taking advantage of both GWs and optical observations for LISA NS–white dwarf (WD) binaries, we propose a mass determination method utilising multimessenger observational information. By combining the binary mass function obtained from optical observations and a GW mass function, which we introduce, derived from GW observations, we demonstrate how we can set improved constraints on the NS mass and break the degeneracy in the mass and viewing inclination determination. We further comment on the universal relation of the error bar of the GW mass function versus the GW signal-to-noise ratio and propose a simple method for estimating the capability of using GW observations for mass determination with LISA. We show that for ultracompact NS–WD binaries within our Galaxy, the mass of the NS can be constrained to within an accuracy of  ±0.2 M _⊙ with the proposed method.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adc0fdNeutron starsCompact binary starsGravitational waves
spellingShingle Kaye Jiale Li
Jane SiNan Long
Kinwah Wu
Albert K. H. Kong
A Multimessenger Mass Determination Method for LISA Neutron Star–White Dwarf Binaries
The Astrophysical Journal
Neutron stars
Compact binary stars
Gravitational waves
title A Multimessenger Mass Determination Method for LISA Neutron Star–White Dwarf Binaries
title_full A Multimessenger Mass Determination Method for LISA Neutron Star–White Dwarf Binaries
title_fullStr A Multimessenger Mass Determination Method for LISA Neutron Star–White Dwarf Binaries
title_full_unstemmed A Multimessenger Mass Determination Method for LISA Neutron Star–White Dwarf Binaries
title_short A Multimessenger Mass Determination Method for LISA Neutron Star–White Dwarf Binaries
title_sort multimessenger mass determination method for lisa neutron star white dwarf binaries
topic Neutron stars
Compact binary stars
Gravitational waves
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adc0fd
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