Extreme-mass-ratio-bursts from extragalactic sources
  Extreme-mass-ratio bursts (EMRBs) are a class of potentially interesting
gravitational wave signals. They are produced when a compact object passes
through periapsis on a highly eccentric orbit about a much more massive object;
we consider stellar mass objects orbiting the massive black holes (MBHs) found
in galactic centres. Such a system may emit many EMRBs before eventually
completing the inspiral. There are several nearby galaxies that could yield
detectable bursts. For a space-borne interferometer like the Laser
Interferometer Space Antenna, sensitivity is greatest for EMRBs from MBHs of
~10^6-10^7 solar masses, which could be detected out to ~100 Mpc. Considering
the examples of M32, NGC 4945 and NGC 4395 we investigate if extragalactic EMRB
signals can provide information about their sources. This is possible, but only
if the periapse radius of the orbit is small, of the order of r_p < 8 r_g,
where r_g = GM/c^2 is the gravitational radius of the MBH. This limits the
utility of EMRBs as an astronomical tool. However, if we are lucky, we could
place constraints on the mass and spin of nearby MBHs with 1% precision.
