title: Demonstrating the feasibility of probing the neutron-star equation of state with second-generation gravitational-wave detectors.
abstract: Fisher matrix and related studies have suggested that, with second-generation gravitational-wave detectors, it may be possible to infer the equation of state of neutron stars using tidal effects in a binary inspiral. Here, we present the first fully Bayesian investigation of this problem. We simulate a realistic data analysis setting by performing a series of numerical experiments of binary neutron-star signals hidden in detector noise, assuming the projected final design sensitivity of the Advanced LIGO-Virgo network. With an astrophysical distribution of events (in particular, uniform in comoving volume), we find that only a few tens of detections will be required to arrive at strong constraints, even for some of the softest equations of state in the literature. Thus, direct gravitational-wave detection will provide a unique probe of neutron-star structure.
authors.affiliation: Nikhef-National Institute for Subatomic Physics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. walterdp@nikhef.nl
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Del Pozzo
authors.forename: Tjonnie G F
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Michalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agathos
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Den Broeck
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vitale