Compact Binary Mergers and Accretion-Induced Collapse: Event Rates

Abstract

This paper is a brief review of the topic of binary systems as sources of gravitational-wave emission for both LIGO and LISA. In particular I review the current estimates of the associated Galactic event rates and their implications for expected detection rates. I discuss the estimates for (i) the coalescence of close binaries containing neutron stars or black holes, (ii) white dwarfs going through accretion-induced collapse into neutron stars, and (iii) detached but close binaries containing two white dwarfs. The relevant uncertainties and robustness of the estimates are addressed along with ways of obtaining conservative upper limits.