Modeling Equatorial EMRI Orbital Evolution using Semi-Relativistic and Teukolsky Calculations

As a result of radiation damping, extreme mass ratio inspirals (EMRIs) will decay from highly eccentric, long period capture orbits to eventually produce gravitational waves detectable by the proposed LISA mission just not long before they reach the last stable orbit (LSO) just before plunge. Rather than rely on Newtonian order approximations we aim to use semi-relativistic and, where possible, Teukolsky codes to estimate radiation reaction and step evolve the orbit by assuming adiabaticity. Highly eccentric orbits will be modeled using numerical semi-relativistic approximations, mid and low eccentricities will be modeled using adjusted analytical semi-relativistic models and orbits near the plunge will be modeled using a Teukolsky-based code.