The Probability Distribution of Binary Pulsar Coalescence Rate Estimates. II. Neutron Star-White Dwarf Binaries

Abstract

We consider the statistics of pulsar binaries with white dwarf companions (NS-WD). Using the statistical analysis method developed by Kim et al. (2003) we calculate the Galactic coalescence rate of NS-WD binaries due to gravitational-wave emission. We find that the most likely values for the total Galactic coalescence rate (R_tot) of NS-WD binaries lie in the range 0.2--10 per Myr depending on different assumed pulsar population models. For our reference model, we obtain R_tot=4.11_(-2.56)^(+5.25) per Myr at a 68% statistical confidence level. These rate estimates are not corrected for pulsar beaming and as such they are found to be about a factor of 20 smaller than the Galactic coalescence rate estimates for double neutron star systems. Based on our rate estimates, we calculate the gravitational-wave background due to coalescing NS-WD binaries out to extragalactic distances within the frequency band of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna. We find the contribution from NS-WD binaries to the gravitational-wave background to be negligible.