CFHT UM2025 - Presentation Details
Abstract Details
Title: Preparing for LISA with CFHT
Presenter: Astrid Lamberts
Abstract:
Very short period white dwarf binaries will be the most numerous sources observed by gravitational wave (GW) observatory LISA. About 10 000 binaries will be individually resolved, providing key information in the evolution of close binary stars but also about the structure of the Milky Way. For the highest frequencies, LISA will observe the complete sample of binaries, up to the Magellanic Clouds, over the whole sky. Several tens of these sources have already been found in electromagnetic surveys of different types and their expected signal in LISA will be crucial to calibrate both the instrument and the data analysis pipelines but many more sources are needed for this. On the other hand, when GW sources can be matched to EM sources, follow-up observations are possible, measuring additional parameters of the binaries. Within the LISA community, several efforts are currently underway to improve our knowledge of (binary) white dwarfs throughout the Milky Way, including through a Roman Community Survey. With Megacam et its u-band filter, the CFH has unique capabilities of mapping WD (binaries) further in the MW than any other EM facility. Based on the observations by the UNIONS survey, we are building simulated populations and testing observing strategies. We are currently preparing a proposal for the CFH community survey and would like to take this opportunity to present this unique science case and ask for feedback.