Investigating the influence of spin-curvature coupling on extreme mass-ratio inspirals

Abstract

In this report, extreme mass ratio inspiral worldlines and gravitational waveforms were produced considering radiation reaction and spin-curvature effects. Spin-curvature coupling was predicted to modify the inspiral by introducing oscillations to the small body's worldline. Investigating these effects led to the observation that spin-curvature effects introduce a resonance-like feature in the worldline. This feature is affected by the mass ratio, spin axis phase angle, and eccentricity of the system. The modifications to the inspiral worldline imprint themselves in the gravitational waves produced. Understanding how spin-curvature coupling modifies these waveforms will help gravitational wave detectors characterize the types of systems they detect.