Gravitational radiation from accreting neutron stars

Attention is given to the evolution of neutron stars whose magnetic fields are so weak that (1) the effects of the magnetosphere on the accretion disk are negligible, allowing it to extend to the surface of the star; and (2) the loss of energy and angular momentum by the pulsar mechanism is negligible compared with that provided by the accretion disk. The small nonaxisymmetric distortion of the neutron star should produce some modulation of the X-ray emission at the gravitational wave frequency, and it is hypothesized that this frequency will lie in the 200-800 Hz range. This is significantly below the rotational frequency of the neutron star.