We present a novel resonance mechanism that can occur in compact-star binaries: a spin-orbit resonance. This resonance locks the binary into a unique state where the spin of one component evolves alongside the orbit. The resonance requires this component to possess a finite ellipticity $\epsilon$, and we find that the locking probability is proportional to $\sqrt{\epsilon }$. We show that resonance locking and its subsequent breaking produce a characteristic phase signature in the gravitational waveform, opening a new observational channel for probing intrinsic ellipticity in compact-star binaries, including exotic compact objects. In addition, as an illustrative astrophysical scenario, we discuss magnetars, whose strong internal fields can source the required ellipticity and may place the signal in the ground-based low-frequency band, although their abundance at merger remains uncertain. We have also conducted a search in all neutron-star binaries up to the O4a gravitational-wave catalog, with no positive event found so far.

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• Gravitational waves
• Neutron stars & pulsars