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 circul ar, equatorial geodesic around a Ken. BH. We find that f(td) depends strong ly on the NS radius R, and estimate that LIGO-II (ca. 2006-2008) might meas ure R to 15% precision at 140 Mpc (similar to 1 event/yr under current esti mates). This suggests that LIGO-II might extract valuable information about the NS equation of state from tidal-disruption waves.