Golden Galactic Binaries for LISA: Mass-transferring White Dwarf Black Hole Binaries

Abstract

We study the evolution and gravitational wave emission of white dwarf–black hole accreting binaries with a semianalytical model. These systems will evolve across the mHz gravitational wave frequency band and potentially be detected by the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). We identify new universal relations for this class of binaries, which relate the component masses to the gravitational wave frequency and its first derivative. Combined with the high precision measurements possible with LISA, these relations could allow us to infer the component masses and the luminosity distance of the source. LISA has therefore the potential to detect and characterize a virtually unexplored binary population.