1,185 research outputs found
Data analysis strategies for the detection of gravitational waves in non-Gaussian noise
In order to analyze data produced by the kilometer-scale gravitational wave
detectors that will begin operation early next century, one needs to develop
robust statistical tools capable of extracting weak signals from the detector
noise. This noise will likely have non-stationary and non-Gaussian components.
To facilitate the construction of robust detection techniques, I present a
simple two-component noise model that consists of a background of Gaussian
noise as well as stochastic noise bursts. The optimal detection statistic
obtained for such a noise model incorporates a natural veto which suppresses
spurious events that would be caused by the noise bursts. When two detectors
are present, I show that the optimal statistic for the non-Gaussian noise model
can be approximated by a simple coincidence detection strategy. For simulated
detector noise containing noise bursts, I compare the operating characteristics
of (i) a locally optimal detection statistic (which has nearly-optimal behavior
for small signal amplitudes) for the non-Gaussian noise model, (ii) a standard
coincidence-style detection strategy, and (iii) the optimal statistic for
Gaussian noise.Comment: 5 pages RevTeX, 4 figure
Optimal Strategies for Sinusoidal Signal Detection
We derive and study optimal and nearly-optimal strategies for the detection
of sinusoidal signals hidden in additive (Gaussian and non-Gaussian) noise.
Such strategies are an essential part of algorithms for the detection of the
gravitational Continuous Wave
(CW) signals produced by pulsars. Optimal strategies are derived for the case
where the signal phase is not known and the product of the signal frequency and
the observation time is non-integral.Comment: 18 pages, REVTEX4, 7 figures, 2 table
Estimation of parameters of gravitational waves from coalescing binaries
In this paper we deal with the measurement of the parameters of the
gravitational wave signal emitted by a coalescing binary signal.
We present the results of Monte Carlo simulations carried out for the case of
the initial LIGO, incorporating the first post-Newtonian corrections into the
waveform. Using the parameters so determined, we estimate the direction to the
source. We stress the use of the time-of-coalescence rather than the
time-of-arrival of the signal to determine the direction of the source. We show
that this can considerably reduce the errors in the determination of the
direction of the source.Comment: 5 pages, REVTEX, 2 figures (bundled via uufiles command along with
this paper) submitted to Praman
Angular momentum effects in Michelson-Morley type experiments
The effect of the angular momentum density of a gravitational source on the
times of flight of light rays in an interferometer is analyzed. The calculation
is made imagining that the interferometer is at the equator of the gravity
source and, as long as possible, the metric, provided it is stationary and
axisymmetric, is not approximated. Finally, in order to evaluate the size of
the effect in the case of the Earth a weak field approximation is introduced.
For laboratory scales and non-geodesic paths the correction turns out to be
comparable with the sensitivity expected in gravitational waves interferometric
detectors, whereas it drops under the threshold of detectability when using
free (geodesic) light rays.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX; more about the detection technique, references
added; accepted for publication in GR
Sensitivity curves for spaceborne gravitational wave interferometers
To determine whether particular sources of gravitational radiation will be
detectable by a specific gravitational wave detector, it is necessary to know
the sensitivity limits of the instrument. These instrumental sensitivities are
often depicted (after averaging over source position and polarization) by
graphing the minimal values of the gravitational wave amplitude detectable by
the instrument versus the frequency of the gravitational wave. This paper
describes in detail how to compute such a sensitivity curve given a set of
specifications for a spaceborne laser interferometer gravitational wave
observatory. Minor errors in the prior literature are corrected, and the first
(mostly) analytic calculation of the gravitational wave transfer function is
presented. Example sensitivity curve calculations are presented for the
proposed LISA interferometer. We find that previous treatments of LISA have
underestimated its sensitivity by a factor of .Comment: 27 pages + 5 figures, REVTeX, accepted for publication in Phys Rev D;
Update reflects referees comments, figure 3 clarified, figure 5 corrected for
LISA baselin
Approximate Analytical Solutions to the Initial Data Problem of Black Hole Binary Systems
We present approximate analytical solutions to the Hamiltonian and momentum
constraint equations, corresponding to systems composed of two black holes with
arbitrary linear and angular momentum. The analytical nature of these initial
data solutions makes them easier to implement in numerical evolutions than the
traditional numerical approach of solving the elliptic equations derived from
the Einstein constraints. Although in general the problem of setting up initial
conditions for black hole binary simulations is complicated by the presence of
singularities, we show that the methods presented in this work provide initial
data with and norms of violation of the constraint equations
falling below those of the truncation error (residual error due to
discretization) present in finite difference codes for the range of grid
resolutions currently used. Thus, these data sets are suitable for use in
evolution codes. Detailed results are presented for the case of a head-on
collision of two equal-mass M black holes with specific angular momentum 0.5M
at an initial separation of 10M. A straightforward superposition method yields
data adequate for resolutions of , and an "attenuated" superposition
yields data usable to resolutions at least as fine as . In addition, the
attenuated approximate data may be more tractable in a full (computational)
exact solution to the initial value problem.Comment: 6 pages, 5 postscript figures. Minor changes and some points
clarified. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
The Kepler equation for inspiralling compact binaries
Compact binaries consisting of neutron stars / black holes on eccentric orbit
undergo a perturbed Keplerian motion. The perturbations are either of
relativistic origin or are related to the spin, mass quadrupole and magnetic
dipole moments of the binary components. The post-Newtonian motion of such
systems decouples into radial and angular parts. We present here for the first
time the radial motion of such a binary encoded in a generalized Kepler
equation, with the inclusion of all above-mentioned contributions, up to linear
order in the perturbations. Together with suitably introduced parametrizations,
the radial motion is solved completely
Speed Meter As a Quantum Nondemolition Measuring Device for Force
Quantum noise is an important issue for advanced LIGO. Although it is in
principle possible to beat the Standard Quantum Limit (SQL), no practical
recipe has been found yet. This paper dicusses quantum noise in the context of
speedmeter-a devise monitoring the speed of the testmass. The scheme proposed
to overcome SQL in this case might be more practical than the methods based on
monitoring position of the testmass.Comment: 7 pages of RevTex, 1 postscript figur
Cooling of a mirror by radiation pressure
We describe an experiment in which a mirror is cooled by the radiation
pressure of light. A high-finesse optical cavity with a mirror coated on a
mechanical resonator is used as an optomechanical sensor of the Brownian motion
of the mirror. A feedback mechanism controls this motion via the radiation
pressure of a laser beam reflected on the mirror. We have observed either a
cooling or a heating of the mirror, depending on the gain of the feedback loop.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, RevTe
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