Rates and characteristics of intermediate-mass-ratio inspirals detectable by Advanced LIGO

We discuss the event rates and characteristics of intermediate-mass-ratio inspirals (IMRIs) of compact objects into intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs) in globular clusters that may be in the detection range of Advanced LIGO. We comment on the astrophysical background of these events, suggest estimates of rates per globular cluster, discuss the distance sensitivity of LIGO and show that Advanced LIGO may see up to tens of IMRIs per year, though one per year may be a more plausible value. We analyze several possible capture mechanisms, and conclude that most IMRIs will have circularized by the time they are in the Advanced LIGO band.