Application of the Hilbert-Huang Transform to the Search for Gravitational Waves

We present the application of a novel method of time-series analysis, the Hilbert-Huang Transform, to the search for gravitational waves. This algorithm is adaptive and does not impose a basis set on the data, and thus the time-frequency decomposition it provides is not limited by time-frequency uncertainty spreading. Because of its high time-frequency resolution it has important applications to both signal detection and instrumental characterization. Applications to the data analysis of the ground and space based gravitational wave detectors, LIGO and LISA, are described

The Kepler Light Curve of V344 Lyrae: Constraining the Thermal-Viscous Limit Cycle Instability

We present time dependent modeling based on the accretion disk limit cycle model for a 270 d light curve of the short period SU UMa-type dwarf nova V344 Lyr taken by Kepler. The unprecedented precision and cadence (1 minute) far surpass that generally available for long term light curves. The data encompass two superoutbursts and 17 normal (i.e., short) outbursts. The main decay of the superoutbursts is nearly perfectly exponential, decaying at a rate ~12 d/mag, while the much more rapid decays of the normal outbursts exhibit a faster-than-exponential shape. Our modeling using the basic accretion disk limit cycle can produce the main features of the V344 Lyr light curve, including the peak outburst brightness. Nevertheless there are obvious deficiencies in our model light curves: (1) The rise times we calculate, both for the normal and superoutbursts, are too fast. (2) The superoutbursts are too short. (3) The shoulders on the rise to superoutburst have more structure than the shoulder in the observed superoutburst and are too slow, comprising about a third to half of the total viscous plateau, rather than the ~10% observed. However, one of the alpha_{cold} -> alpha_{hot} interpolation schemes we investigate (one that is physically motivated) does yield longer superoutbursts with suitably short, less structured shoulders.Comment: 39 pages, 9 figures, accepted in the Astrophysical Journa

Kepler Observations of V447 Lyr: An Eclipsing U Gem Cataclysmic Variable

We present the results of an analysis of data covering 1.5 years of the dwarf nova V447 Lyr. We detect eclipses of the accretion disk by the mass donating secondary star every 3.74 hrs which is the binary orbital period. V447 Lyr is therefore the first dwarf nova in the Kepler field to show eclipses. We also detect five long outbursts and six short outbursts showing V447 Lyr is a U Gem type dwarf nova. We show that the orbital phase of the mid-eclipse occurs earlier during outbursts compared to quiescence and that the width of the eclipse is greater during outburst. This suggests that the bright spot is more prominent during quiescence and that the disk is larger during outburst than quiescence. This is consistent with an expansion of the outer disk radius due to the presence of high viscosity material associated with the outburst, followed by a contraction in quiescence due to the accretion of low angular momentum material. We note that the long outbursts appear to be triggered by a short outburst, which is also observed in the super-outbursts of SU UMa dwarf novae as observed using Kepler.Comment: Accepted by MNRA

Methods for detection and characterization of signals in noisy data with the Hilbert-Huang Transform

The Hilbert-Huang Transform is a novel, adaptive approach to time series analysis that does not make assumptions about the data form. Its adaptive, local character allows the decomposition of non-stationary signals with hightime-frequency resolution but also renders it susceptible to degradation from noise. We show that complementing the HHT with techniques such as zero-phase filtering, kernel density estimation and Fourier analysis allows it to be used effectively to detect and characterize signals with low signal to noise ratio.Comment: submitted to PRD, 10 pages, 9 figures in colo

V344 Lyrae: A Touchstone SU UMa Cataclysmic Variable in the Kepler Field

We report on the analysis of the Kepler short-cadence (SC) light curve of V344 Lyr obtained during 2009 June 20 through 2010 Mar 19 (Q2--Q4). The system is an SU UMa star showing dwarf nova outbursts and superoutbursts, and promises to be a touchstone for CV studies for the foreseeable future. The system displays both positive and negative superhumps with periods of 2.20 and 2.06-hr, respectively, and we identify an orbital period of 2.11-hr. The positive superhumps have a maximum amplitude of ~0.25-mag, the negative superhumps a maximum amplitude of ~0.8 mag, and the orbital period at quiescence has an amplitude of ~0.025 mag. The quality of the Kepler data is such that we can test vigorously the models for accretion disk dynamics that have been emerging in the past several years. The SC data for V344 Lyr are consistent with the model that two physical sources yield positive superhumps: early in the superoutburst, the superhump signal is generated by viscous dissipation within the periodically flexing disk, but late in the superoutburst, the signal is generated as the accretion stream bright spot sweeps around the rim of the non-axisymmetric disk. The disk superhumps are roughly anti-phased with the stream/late superhumps. The V344 Lyr data also reveal negative superhumps arising from accretion onto a tilted disk precessing in the retrograde direction, and suggest that negative superhumps may appear during the decline of DN outbursts. The period of negative superhumps has a positive dP/dt in between outbursts.Comment: ApJ, In Press (20 pages, 27 figures) A version with full-resolution figures is available at http://www.astro.fit.edu/wood/WoodV344.pd

Short gamma-ray bursts within 200 Mpc

We present a systematic search for short-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) in the local Universe based on 14 yr of observations with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. We cross-correlate the GRB positions with the GLADE catalogue of nearby galaxies, and find no event at a distance ≲100 Mpc and four plausible candidates in the range 100 Mpc ≲ D ≲ 200 Mpc. Although affected by low statistics, this number is higher than the one expected for chance alignments to random galaxies, and possibly suggests a physical association between these bursts and nearby galaxies. By assuming a local origin, we use these events to constrain the range of properties for X-ray counterparts of neutron star mergers. Optical upper limits place tight constraints on the onset of a blue kilonova, and imply either low masses (⁠≲10−3M⊙⁠) of lanthanide-poor ejecta or unfavorable orientations (θ_(obs) ≳ 30 deg). Finally, we derive that the all-sky rate of detectable short GRBs within 200 Mpc is 1.3^(+1.7)_(−0.8) yr⁻¹ (68 per cent confidence interval), and discuss the implications for the GRB outflow structure. If these candidates are instead of cosmological origin, we set a upper limit of ≲2.0 yr⁻¹ (90 per cent confidence interval) to the rate of nearby events detectable with operating gamma-ray observatories, such as Swift and Fermi

Implications of the HST/FGS parallax of SS Cygni on the disc instability model

We analyse the consequences of the recently measured parallax of SS Cygni (Harrison et al. 1999) on the accretion disc limit cycle model. Using the observed long term light curve of SS Cyg and d=166 pc, we obtain for the mean mass transfer rate 4.2*10^(17)g/s. In addition, we calculate the vertical structure of the accretion disc taking into account heating of the outer disc by the stream impact. Comparing the mean accretion rate derived from the observations with the calculated critical mass transfer rate, we find that the disc instability model disagrees with the observed long term light curve of SS Cyg as the mean mass transfer rate is greater or similar to the critical mass transfer rate. The failure of the model indicated by this result can be confirmed by considering that the accretion rate at the onset of the decline should be exactly equal to the value critical for stability. In contrast to this prediction of the model, we find that the accretion rate required to explain the observed visual magnitude at the onset of the decline must be significantly higher than the critical mass transfer rate. Our results strongly suggest that either the usually assumed temperature dependence of the viscosity parameter alpha is not a realistic description of the disc viscosity, that the mass transfer rate in SS Cyg noticeably increases during the outbursts or, finally, that the HST distance of 166 pc, is too high.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in A&

The Kepler light curves of V1504 Cygni and V344 Lyrae: A study of the Outburst Properties

We examine the Kepler light curves of V1504 Cyg and V344 Lyr, encompassing ~736 d at 1 min cadence. During this span each system exhibited ~64-65 outbursts, including six superoutbursts. We find that, in both systems, the normal outbursts between two superoutbursts increase in duration over time by a factor ~1.2-1.9, and then reset to a small value after the following superoutburst. In both systems the trend of quiescent intervals between normal outbursts is to increase to a local maximum about half way through the supercycle - the interval from one superoutburst to the next - and then to decrease back to a small value by the time of the next superoutburst. This is inconsistent with Osaki's thermal-tidal model, which predicts a monotonic increase in the quiescent intervals between normal outbursts during a supercycle. Also, most of the normal outbursts have an asymmetric, fast-rise/slower-decline shape, consistent with outbursts triggered at large radii. The exponential rate of decay of the plateau phase of the superoutbursts is 8 d/mag for V1504 Cyg and 12 d/mag for V344 Lyr. This time scale gives a direct measure of the viscous time scale in the outer accretion disk given the expectation that the entire disk is in the hot, viscous state during superoutburst. The resulting constraint on the Shakura-Sunyaev parameter, alpha_{hot} ~ 0.1, is consistent with the value inferred from the fast dwarf nova decays. By looking at the slow decay rate for superoutbursts, which occur in systems below the period gap, in combination with the slow decay rate in one long outburst above the period gap (in U Gem), we infer a steep dependence of the decay rate on orbital period for long outbursts. This implies a steep dependence of alpha_{cold} on orbital period, consistent with tidal torquing as being the dominant angular momentum transport mechanism in quiescent disks in interacting binary systems.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures; accepted by the Astrophysical Journa