LISA detection of binary black holes in the Milky Way galaxy

Abstract

Using the black hole merger rate inferred from LIGO, we calculate the abundance of tightly bound black hole binaries in the Milky Way galaxy. Binaries with a small semimajor axis (≲10R⊙) originate at larger separations through conventional formation mechanisms and evolve as a result of gravitational wave emission. We find that eLISA could detect them in the Milky Way. We also identify possible X-ray signatures of such binaries.