LISA parameter-estimation precision for eccentric Galactic binaries

Quantify how precisely LISA can measure eccentricity, total mass, and related parameters of Galactic binaries by developing and applying a sampler-integrated likelihood interface for the eGB-multi waveform framework.

Background

The paper develops eGB-multi, a time-domain waveform and detector-response framework for eccentric Galactic binaries observed by LISA. It combines post-Newtonian eccentric source dynamics, optional Peters–Mathews radiation-reaction evolution, exact retarded one-way LISA links, time-delay interferometry, and noise-weighted waveform comparisons. The presented analysis focuses on waveform construction, response modeling, and mismatches between eccentric signals and quasi-circular templates rather than on inference from data.

The authors identify a sampler-integrated likelihood interface as the next step needed to turn these waveform ingredients into a parameter-estimation tool. Such an interface would repeatedly map source parameters to LISA TDI channels and likelihood values while reusing fixed data streams, power spectral densities, frequency masks, cached spacecraft geometry, and TDI settings. The unresolved study is therefore to determine the precision with which LISA can infer eccentricity, total mass, and other parameters for Galactic binaries.