Active Galactic Nuclei Disks Research Articles

Nuclear burning in an accretion flow around a stellar-mass black hole embedded within an AGN disk

Abstract A stellar-mass black hole, embedded within the accretion disk of an active galactic nuclei (AGN), has the potential to accrete gas at a rate that can reach approximately ∼109 times the Eddington limit. This study explores the potential for nuclear burning in the rapidly accreting flow towards this black hole and studies how nucleosynthesis affects metal production. Using numerical methods, we have obtained the disk structure while considering nuclear burning and assessed the stability of the disk. In contrast to gas accretion onto the surface of a neutron star or white dwarf, the disk remains stable against the thermal and secular instabilities because advection cooling offsets the nuclear heating effects. The absence of a solid surface for a black hole prevents excessive mass accumulation in the inner disk region. Notably, nuclear fusion predominantly takes place in the inner disk region, resulting in substantial burning of $\rm ^{12}C$ and $\rm ^{3}He$, particularly for black holes around M = 10 M⊙ with accretion rates exceeding approximately ∼107 times the Eddington rate. The ejection of carbon-depleted gas through outflows can lead to an increase in the mass ratio of oxygen or nitrogen to carbon, which may be reflected in observed line ratios such as $\rm N\, V/C\, IV$ and $\rm O\, IV/C\, IV$. Consequently, these elevated spectral line ratios could be interpreted as indications of super-solar metallicity in the broad line region.

AT 2021hdr: A candidate tidal disruption of a gas cloud by a binary super massive black hole system

With a growing number of facilities able to monitor the entire sky and produce light curves with a cadence of days, in recent years there has been an increased rate of detection of sources whose variability deviates from standard behavior, revealing a variety of exotic nuclear transients. The aim of the present study is to disentangle the nature of the transient AT\,2021hdr, whose optical light curve used to be consistent with a classic Seyfert 1 nucleus, which was also confirmed by its optical spectrum and high-energy properties. From late 2021, AT\,2021hdr started to present sudden brightening episodes in the form of oscillating peaks in the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) alert stream, and the same shape is observed in X-rays and UV from Swift data. The oscillations occur every sim 60-90 days with amplitudes of sim 0.2 mag in the g and r bands. Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations show no radio emission at milliarcseconds scale. It is argued that these findings are inconsistent with a standard tidal disruption event (TDE), a binary supermassive black hole (BSMBH), or a changing-look active galactic nucleus (AGN); neither does this object resemble previous observed AGN flares, and disk or jet instabilities are an unlikely scenario. Here, we propose that the behavior of AT\,2021hdr might be due to the tidal disruption of a gas cloud by a BSMBH. In this scenario, we estimate that the putative binary has a separation of sim 0.83 mpc and would merge in sim 7times 10$^4$ years. This galaxy is located at 9 kpc from a companion galaxy, and in this work we report this merger for the first time. The oscillations are not related to the companion galaxy.

Eccentric mergers in AGN Discs: Influence of the supermassive black-hole on three-body interactions

Abstract There are indications that stellar-origin black holes (BHs) are efficiently paired up in binary black holes (BBHs) in Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) disc environments, which can undergo interactions with single BHs in the disc. Such binary-single interactions can potentially lead to an exceptionally high fraction of gravitational-wave mergers with measurable eccentricity in LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA. We here take the next important step in this line of studies by performing post-Newtonian N-body simulations between migrating BBHs and single BHs set in an AGN disc-like configuration, with a consistent inclusion of the central supermassive black hole (SMBH) in the equations of motion. With this setup, we study how the fraction of eccentric mergers varies in terms of the initial size of the BBH semi-major axis relative to the Hill sphere, as well as how it depends on the angle between the BBH and the incoming single BH. We find that the fraction of eccentric mergers is still relatively large, even when the interactions are notably influenced by the gravitational field of the nearby SMBH. However, the fraction as a function of the BBH semi-major axis does not follow a smooth functional shape, but instead shows strongly varying features that originate from the underlying phase-space structure. The phase-space further reveals that many of the eccentric mergers are formed through prompt scatterings. Finally, we present the first analytical solution to how the presence of an SMBH in terms of its Hill sphere affects the probability for forming eccentric BBH mergers through chaotic three-body interactions.

Propagation of Gamma-Ray Burst Relativistic Jets in Active Galactic Nucleus Disks and Its Implication for Gamma-Ray Burst Detection

The accretion disks of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) harboring in active galactic nuclei (AGN) are considered to be an ideal site for producing different types of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). The detectability of these GRB phenomena hidden in AGN disks is highly dependent on the dynamical evolution of the GRB relativistic jets. By investigating the reverse- and forward-shock dynamics due to the interaction between the jets and AGN disk material, we find that the relativistic jets can successfully break out from the disks only for a sufficiently high luminosity and a long enough duration. In comparison, relatively normal GRB jets are inclined to be choked in the disks unless the GRBs occur near an SMBH with relatively low mass (e.g., ∼106 M ⊙). For the choked jets, unlike normal GRB prompt and afterglow emission, we can only expect to detect emission from the forward shock when the shock is very close to the edge of the disks, i.e., at the shock breakout emission and subsequent cooling of the shock.

Exploring the connection between AGN radiative feedback and massive black hole spin

We present a novel implementation for active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback through ultrafast winds in the code GIZMO. Our feedback recipe accounts for the angular dependence of radiative feedback on black hole spin. We self-consistently evolve in time (i) the gas-accretion process from resolved scales to a smaller scale unresolved (subgrid) AGN disk, (ii) the evolution of the spin of the massive black hole (MBH), (iii) the injection of AGN-driven winds into the resolved scales, and (iv) the spin-induced anisotropy of the overall feedback process. We tested our implementation by following the propagation of the wind-driven outflow into an homogeneous medium, and here we present a comparison of the results against simple analytical models. We also considered an isolated galaxy setup, where the galaxy is thought to be formed from the collapse of a spinning gaseous halo, and there we studied the impact of the AGN feedback on the evolution of the MBH and of the host galaxy. We find that: (i) AGN feedback limits the gas inflow that powers the MBH, with a consequent weak impact on the host galaxy characterized by a suppression of star formation by about a factor of two in the nuclear (≲kpc) region; (ii) the impact of AGN feedback on the host galaxy and on MBH growth is primarily determined by the AGN luminosity rather than by its angular pattern set by the MBH spin (i.e., more luminous AGNs more efficiently suppress central star formation (SF), clearing wider central cavities and driving outflows with larger semiopening angles); (iii) the imprint of the angular pattern of AGN radiation emission is detected more clearly at high (i.e., Eddington) accretion rates. At such high rates, the more isotropic angular patterns, as occur for high spin values, sweep away gas in the nuclear region more easily, therefore causing a slower MBH mass and spin growths and a higher quenching of SF. We argue that the influence of spin-dependent anisotropy of AGN feedback on MBH and galaxy evolution is likely to be relevant in those scenarios characterized by high and prolonged MBH accretion episodes and by high AGN wind–galaxy coupling. Such conditions are more frequently met in galaxy mergers and/or high-redshift galaxies.

Radiation Hydrodynamic Simulations of Massive Stars in Gas-rich Environments: Accretion of AGN Stars Suppressed by Thermal Feedback

Massive stars may form in or be captured into active galactic nuclei (AGN) disks. Recent 1D studies employing stellar-evolution codes have demonstrated the potential for rapid growth of such stars through accretion up to a few hundred solar masses. We perform 3D radiation hydrodynamic simulations of moderately massive stars’ envelopes in order to determine the rate and critical radius R crit of their accretion process in an isotropic gas-rich environment in the absence of luminosity-driven mass loss. We find that in the “fast-diffusion” regime where characteristic radiative diffusion speed c/τ is faster than the gas sound speed c s , the accretion rate is suppressed by feedback from gravitational and radiative advection energy flux, in addition to the stellar luminosity. Alternatively, in the “slow-diffusion” regime where c/τ < c s , due to adiabatic accretion, the stellar envelope expands quickly to become hydrostatic and further net accretion occurs on thermal timescales in the absence of self-gravity. When the radiation entropy of the medium is less than that of the star, however, this hydrostatic envelope can become more massive than the star itself. Within this subregime, the self-gravity of the envelope excites runaway growth. Applying our results to realistic environments, moderately massive stars (≲100M ⊙) embedded in AGN disks typically accrete in the fast-diffusion regime, leading to a reduction of steady-state accretion rate 1–2 orders of magnitudes lower than expected by previous 1D calculations and R crit smaller than the disk scale height, except in the opacity window at temperature T ∼ 2000 K. Accretion in slow diffusion regime occurs in regions with very high density ρ ≳ 10−9 g cm−3, and needs to be treated with caution in 1D long-term calculations.

Studying Binary Formation under Dynamical Friction Using Hill’s Problem

Using the equations of motion from Hill’s problem, with added accelerations for different forms of dynamical friction, we provide the (to-date) broadest scale-free study of friction-driven binary formation in gaseous disks and stellar clusters. We focus mainly on binary formation between stellar-mass black holes in active galactic nuclei (AGNs), considering both gas dynamical friction (GDF) from AGN disks and stellar dynamical friction (SDF) from the nuclear star cluster. We first find simple, dimensionless friction coefficients that approximate the effects of standard models for GDF and SDF. We perform extensive simulations of Hill’s problem under such friction, and we present a picture of binary formation through encounters between single stars on nearby orbits, as a function of friction parameter, eccentricity, and inclination. Notably, we find that the local binary formation rate is a linear function of the friction coefficient so long as the friction is weak. Due to the dimensionless nature of our model problem, our findings are generalizable to binary formation at all scales (e.g., intermediate-mass black holes in a star cluster, planetesimals in a gaseous disk).

Accretion and dynamical evolutions of stellar mass black holes in active galactic nucleus disks

Accretion and dynamical evolutions of stellar mass black holes in active galactic nucleus disks

Afterglows from Binary Neutron Star Postmerger Systems Embedded in Active Galactic Nuclei Disks

The observability of afterglows from binary neutron star mergers occurring within active galactic nuclei (AGN) disks is investigated. We perform 3D GRMHD simulations of a postmerger system and follow the jet launched from the compact object. We use semianalytic techniques to study the propagation of the blast wave powered by the jet through an AGN disk-like external environment, extending to distances beyond the disk scale height. The synchrotron emission produced by the jet-driven forward shock is calculated to obtain the afterglow emission. The observability of this emission at different frequencies is assessed by comparing it to the quiescent AGN emission. In the scenarios where the afterglow could temporarily outshine the AGN, we find that detection will be more feasible at higher frequencies (≳1014 Hz) and the electromagnetic counterpart could manifest as a fast variability in the AGN emission, on timescales less than a day.

Disc novae: thermodynamics of gas-assisted binary black hole formation in AGN discs

ABSTRACT We investigate the thermodynamics of close encounters between stellar mass black holes (BHs) in the gaseous discs of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), during which binary black holes (BBHs) may form. We consider a suite of 2D viscous hydrodynamical simulations within a shearing box prescription using the Eulerian grid code athena++. We study formation scenarios where the fluid is either an isothermal gas or an adiabatic mixture of gas and radiation in local thermal equilibrium. We include the effects of viscous and shock heating, as well as optically thick cooling. We co-evolve the embedded BHs with the gas, keeping track of the energetic dissipation and torquing of the BBH by gas and inertial forces. We find that compared to the isothermal case, the minidiscs formed around each BH are significantly hotter and more diffuse, though BBH formation is still efficient. We observe massive blast waves arising from collisions between the radiative minidiscs during both the initial close encounter and subsequent periapsis periods for successfully bound BBHs. These ‘disc novae’ have a profound effect, depleting the BBH Hill sphere of gas and injecting energy into the surrounding medium. In analysing the thermal emission from these events, we observe periodic peaks in local luminosity associated with close encounters/periapses, with emission peaking in the optical/near-infrared (IR). In the AGN outskirts, these outbursts can reach 4 per cent of the AGN luminosity in the IR band, with flares rising over 0.5–1 yr. Collisions in different disc regions, or when treated in 3D with magnetism, may produce more prominent flares.

Concurrent Accretion and Migration of Giant Planets in Their Natal Disks with Consistent Accretion Torque

Migration commonly occurs during the epoch of planet formation. For emerging gas giant planets, it proceeds concurrently with their growth through the accretion of gas from their natal protoplanetary disks. A similar migration process should also be applied to the stellar-mass black holes embedded in active galactic nucleus disks. In this work, we perform high-resolution 3D and 2D numerical hydrodynamical simulations to study the migration dynamics for accreting embedded objects over the disk viscous timescales in a self-consistent manner. We find that an accreting planet embedded in a predominantly viscous disk has a tendency to migrate outward, in contrast to the inward orbital decay of nonaccreting planets. 3D and 2D simulations find the consistent outward migration results for the accreting planets. Under this circumstance, the accreting planet’s outward migration is mainly due to the asymmetric spiral arms feeding from the global disk into the Hill radius. This is analogous to the unsaturated corotation torque although the imbalance is due to material accretion within the libration timescale rather than diffusion onto the inner disk. In a disk with a relatively small viscosity, the accreting planets clear deep gaps near their orbits. The tendency of inward migration is recovered, albeit with suppressed rates. By performing a parameter survey with a range of disks’ viscosity, we find that the transition from outward to inward migration occurs with the effective viscous efficiency factor α ∼ 0.003 for Jupiter-mass planets.

High-energy Neutrinos from Outflows Powered by the Kicked Remnants of Binary Black Hole Mergers in Active Galactic Nucleus Accretion Disks

Merging of stellar-mass binary black holes (BBHs) could take place within the accretion disks of active galactic nuclei (AGN). The resulting BH remnant is likely to accrete the disk gas at a super-Eddington rate, launching a fast, quasi-spherical outflow (wind). Particles will be accelerated by shocks driven by the wind, subsequently interacting with the shocked disk gas or radiation field through hadronic processes and resulting in the production of high-energy neutrinos and potential electromagnetic (EM) emission. This study delves into the intricate evolution of the shock driven by a merged BH wind within an AGN disk. Subsequently, we calculated the production of neutrinos and the expected detection numbers for a single event, along with their contributions to the overall diffuse neutrino background. Our analysis, which considers various scenarios, reveals considerable neutrino production and possible detection by IceCube for nearby events. The contribution of merged BH winds on the diffuse neutrino background is minor due to the low event rate density, but it can be improved to some extent for some optimistic parameters. We also propose that there could be two neutrino/EM bursts, one originating from the premerger BBH wind and the other from the merged BH wind, with the latter typically having a delay to the gravitational wave (GW) event of around tens of days. When combined with the anticipated GWs emitted during the BBH merger, such a system emerges as a promising candidate for joint observations involving neutrinos, GWs, and EM signals.

Super-Eddington Magnetized Neutron Star Accretion Flows: A Self-similar Analysis

The properties of super-Eddington accretion disks exhibit substantial distinctions from the sub-Eddington ones. In this paper, we investigate the accretion process of a magnetized neutron star (NS) surrounded by a super-Eddington disk. By constructing self-similar solutions for the disk structure, we study in detail an interaction between the NS magnetosphere and the inner region of the disk, revealing that this interaction takes place within a thin boundary layer. The magnetosphere truncation radius is found to be approximately proportional to the Alfvén radius, with a coefficient ranging between 0.34–0.71, influenced by the advection and twisting of a magnetic field, NS rotation, and radiation emitted from an NS accretion column. Under super-Eddington accretion, the NS can readily spin up to become a rapid rotator. The proposed model can be employed to explore the accretion and evolution of NSs in diverse astrophysical contexts, such as ultraluminous X-ray binaries or active galactic nucleus disks.

Runaway Eccentricity Growth: A Pathway for Binary Black Hole Mergers in AGN Disks

Binary black holes (BBHs) embedded within the accretion disks that fuel active galactic nuclei (AGN) are promising progenitors for the source of gravitational wave (GW) events detected by LIGO/VIRGO. Several recent studies have shown that when these binaries form, they are likely to be highly eccentric and retrograde. However, many uncertainties remain concerning the orbital evolution of these binaries as they either inspiral toward merger or disassociate. Previous hydrodynamical simulations exploring their orbital evolution have been predominantly two-dimensional or have been restricted to binaries on nearly circular orbits. We present the first high-resolution, three-dimensional local shearing-box simulations of both prograde and retrograde eccentric BBHs embedded in AGN disks. We find that retrograde binaries shrink several times faster than their prograde counterparts and exhibit significant orbital eccentricity growth, the rate of which monotonically increases with binary eccentricity. Our results suggest that retrograde binaries may experience runaway orbital eccentricity growth, which may bring them close enough together at pericenter for GW emission to drive them to coalescence. Although their eccentricity is damped, prograde binaries shrink much faster than their orbital eccentricity decays, suggesting they should remain modestly eccentric as they contract toward merger. Finally, binary precession driven by the AGN disk may dominate over precession induced by the supermassive black hole depending on the binary accretion rate and its location in the AGN disk, which can subdue the evection resonance and von Ziepel–Lidov–Kozai cycles.

Inferring the iron K emissivity profiles of accretion discs irradiated by extended coronae

ABSTRACT One of the most promising methods to measure the spin of an accreting black hole is fitting the broad iron K$\alpha$ line in the X-ray spectrum. The line profile also depends on the geometry of the hard X-ray emitting corona. To put constraints on the black hole spin and corona geometry, it is essential to understand how do they affect the iron K$\alpha$ line emissivity profile. In this work, we present calculations of the illumination and the iron K$\alpha$ emissivity profiles performed with the Monte Carlo GR radiative transfer code monk. We focus on distinction between the illumination and emissivity profiles, which is in most previous studies neglected. We show that especially for the case of black hole X-ray binaries (BHXRBs), the difference is very large. For active galactic nuclei (AGNs), the emissivity profile has a more similar shape as the illumination profile, but it is notably steeper in the innermost region within a few gravitational radii. We find out that the different behaviour between AGN and BHXRB discs is due to the different energy spectra of the illuminating radiation. This suggests that the emissivity profile of the iron K$\alpha$ line cannot be determined by black hole spin and corona geometry alone and the energy spectrum of the illuminating radiation has to be taken into account. We also examined the effect of including the self-irradiation, and find it to be more important than the corona emission in BHXRBs.

Neutron star accretion events in AGN discs: mutimessenger implications

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the accretion of neutron stars (NSs) in active galactic nucleus (AGN) accretion discs. We classify potential accretion modes of NSs in AGN discs, proposing a hierarchical model of NS accretion: accretion flow from the Bondi sphere to accretion columns. The accretion of NSs in AGN discs differs from that of BHs, especially within the scale of the NS’s magnetosphere due to its hard surface and magnetic field. As the accretion flow approaches the magnetosphere, the magnetic fields guide the accretion flow to form accretion columns, primarily dominated by neutrinos. While neutrinos generated from single NS accretion may not have observable effects, considering the all-sky background, they contribute to the neutrino background in the sub-MeV energy range comparable to that of supernova explosions. NS accretion may also lead to the generation of mass quadrupole moments, consequently generating gravitational waves (GWs). The GWs, which exhibit characteristic effects like periodic modulations and echoes, could be observed by third-generation GW detectors. The emission of neutrinos and GWs carries away energy and angular momentum brought by accretion, reducing the feedback effect on the AGN disc. This results in an exceptionally high NS accretion rate, leading to a collapse time-scale shorter than the migration-merge time-scale, making it less likely that binary NS mergers originate from AGN discs.

Accretion-modified Stars in Accretion Disks of Active Galactic Nuclei: Observational Characteristics in Different Regions of the Disks

Stars and compact objects embedded in accretion disks of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), dubbed accretion-modified stars (AMSs), often experience hyper-Eddington accretion in the dense gas environment, resulting in powerful outflows as the Bondi explosion and formation of cavities. The varying gas properties across different regions of the AGN disk can give rise to diverse and intriguing phenomena. In this paper, we conduct a study on the characteristics of AMSs situated in the outer, middle, and inner regions of the AGN disk, where the growth of the AMSs during the shift inward is considered. We calculate their multiwavelength spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and thermal light curves. Our results reveal that the thermal luminosity of the Bondi explosion occurring in the middle region leads to UV flares with a luminosity of ∼1044 erg s−1. The synchrotron radiation of Bondi explosion in the middle and inner regions peaks at the X-ray band with luminosities of ∼1043 and ∼1042 erg s−1, respectively. The γ-ray luminosity of inverse Compton radiation spans from 1042–1043 erg s−1 peaked at the ∼10 MeV (outer region) and ∼GeV (middle and inner regions) bands. The observable flares of AMS in the middle region exhibit a slow rise and rapid Gaussian decay with a duration of months, while in the inner region, it exhibits a fast rise and slow Gaussian decay with a duration of several hours. These various SED and light-curve features provide valuable insights into the various astronomical transient timescales associated with AGNs.

Gas assisted binary black hole formation in AGN discs

ABSTRACT We investigate close encounters by stellar mass black holes (BHs) in the gaseous discs of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) as a potential formation channel of binary black holes (BBHs). We perform a series of 2D isothermal viscous hydrodynamical simulations within a shearing box prescription using the Eulerian grid code Athena++. We co-evolve the embedded BHs with the gas keeping track of the energetic dissipation and torquing of the BBH by gas gravitation and inertial forces. To probe the dependence of capture on the initial conditions, we discuss a suite of 345 simulations spanning BBH impact parameter (b) and local AGN disc density (ρ0). We identify a clear region in b − ρ0 space where gas assisted BBH capture is efficient. We find that the presence of gas leads to strong energetic dissipation during close encounters between unbound BHs, forming stably bound eccentric BBHs. We find that the gas dissipation during close encounters increases for systems with increased disc density and deeper periapsis passages rp, fitting a power law such that $\Delta E \propto \rho _0^{\alpha }r_{\mathrm{p}}^{\beta }$, where {α, β} = {1.01 ± 0.04, −0.43 ± 0.03}. Alternatively, the gas dissipation is approximately ΔE = 4.3MdvHvp, where Md is the mass of a single BH minidisc just prior to the encounter when the binary separation is 2rH (two binary Hill radii), vH and vp are the relative BH velocities at 2rH and at the first closest approach, respectively. We derive a prescription for capture which can be used in semi-analytical models of AGN. We do not find the dissipative dynamics observed in these systems to be in agreement with the simple gas dynamical friction models often used in the literature.

Soft No More: Gas Shielding Protects Soft Binaries from Disruption in Gas-rich Environments

Binaries in dense environments are traditionally classified as soft or hard based on their binding energy relative to the kinetic energy of surrounding stars. Heggie’s law suggests that stellar encounters tend to soften soft binaries and harden hard binaries, altering their separations. However, interactions with gas in such environments can significantly modify this behavior. This study investigates the impact of gas on binary softening and its consequences. We find that gas interactions can actually harden binaries, extending the soft–hard boundary to larger separations. This introduces a “shielding radius” within which binaries are likely to harden due to gas interactions, surpassing the traditional soft–hard limit. Consequently, a notable portion of binaries initially classified as “soft” may become “hard” when both gas and stars are considered. We propose a two-stage formation process for hard binaries: initial soft binary formation, either dynamically or through gas-assisted capture, followed by gas-induced hardening before eventual disruption. In environments with low gas density but high gas content, the shielding radius could exceed the typical hard–soft limit by 1 order of magnitude, leading to a significant fraction of originally soft binaries effectively becoming hard. Conversely, in high-gas-density environments, gas-induced hardening may dominate, potentially rendering the entire binary population hard. Gas hardening emerges as a crucial factor in shaping binary populations in gas-rich settings, such as clusters, star-forming regions, and possibly active galactic nucleus disks. This highlights the complex interplay between gas dynamics and stellar interactions in binary evolution within dense environments.

Determining the Hubble constant with AGN-assisted black hole mergers

ABSTRACT Gravitational waves from neutron star mergers have long been considered a promising way to measure the Hubble constant, H0, which describes the local expansion rate of the Universe. While black hole mergers are more abundantly observed, their expected lack of electromagnetic emission and poor gravitational-wave localization make them less well suited for measuring H0. Black hole mergers within the discs of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) could be an exception. Accretion from the AGN disc may produce an electromagnetic signal, pointing observers to the host galaxy. Alternatively, the low number density of AGNs could help identify the host galaxy of $1{\!-\!}5~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of mergers. Here we show that black hole mergers in AGN discs may be a sensitive way to determine H0 with gravitational waves. If 1 per cent (10 per cent) of LIGO’s observations occur in AGN discs with identified host galaxies, we could measure H0 with 12 per cent (4 per cent) uncertainty in five years, possibly comparable to the sensitivity of neutron star mergers and set to considerably improve current gravitational wave measurements.