Prospects for Gravitational-Wave Observations of Neutron-Star Tidal Disruption in Neutron-Star–Black-Hole Binaries

For an inspiraling neutron-star-black-hole (NS-BH) binary, we estimate the gravity-wave frequency f(td) at the onset of NS tidal disruption. We model the NS as a tidally distorted, homogeneous, Newtonian ellipsoid on a circular, equatorial geodesic around a Kerr BH. We find that f(td) depends strongly on the NS radius R, and estimate that LIGO-II (ca. 2006-2008) might measure R to 15% precision at 140 Mpc ( approximately 1 event/yr under current estimates). This suggests that LIGO-II might extract valuable information about the NS equation of state from tidal-disruption waves.