Circular-binary quadrupole radiation

ID: circular-binary-quadrupole-radiation

Two equal masses orbiting their centre of mass at radius have separation . Newton's law of universal gravitation gives the displayed orbital frequency. Their mass quadrupole moment varies at twice that frequency, producing gravitational radiation with two gravitational wave polarizations. For inclination , its leading plus and cross amplitudes are proportional to and , respectively. Face-on radiation is circularly polarized; edge-on radiation is linearly polarized.

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