New tidal interaction models for binary population synthesis

Tidal interactions are crucial to the evolution of close binary stars and planetary systems, with significant implications for understanding the progenitors of gravitational wave events. In this work, we present an updated, self-consistent prescription for tidal dissipation, implemented within the population synthesis code COMPAS. Our approach incorporates recent advancements in tidal theory, including equilibrium tides driven by viscous dissipation and dynamical tides induced by both gravity and inertial waves. Through simulations of binary populations across a broad mass range, we find that the resulting circularization and synchronization periods align well with observational data. Moreover, we assess the impact of tidal dissipation on gravitational wave sources for the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA detector network, demonstrating that neglecting tidal effects can lead to significant changes in the predicted merger rates.