Gravitational-wave detections are enabling measurements of the rate of coalescences of binaries composed of two compact objects—neutron stars and/or black holes. The coalescence rate of binaries containing neutron stars is further constrained by electromagnetic observations, including Galactic radio binary pulsars and short gamma-ray bursts. Meanwhile, increasingly sophisticated models of compact objects merging through a variety of evolutionary channels produce a range of theoretically predicted rates. Rapid improvements in instrument sensitivity, along with plans for new and improved surveys, make this an opportune time to summarise the existing observational and theoretical knowledge of compact-binary coalescence rates.

引力波探测能够测量由两个致密天体（中子星和/或黑洞）组成的双星的合并速率。含有中子星的双星的聚结率进一步受到电磁观测的限制，包括银河射电双星脉冲星和短伽马射线爆发。与此同时，日益复杂的致密物体模型通过各种进化渠道融合，产生了一系列理论上预测的速率。仪器灵敏度的快速提高，以及新的和改进的调查计划，使现在成为总结致密双星聚结率的现有观测和理论知识的好时机。