67 research outputs found
Advanced LIGO's ability to detect apparent violations of the cosmic censorship conjecture and the no-hair theorem through compact binary coalescence detections
We study the ability of the advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave
Observatory (aLIGO) to detect apparent violations of the cosmic censorship
conjecture and the no-hair theorem. The cosmic censorship conjecture, which is
believed to be true in the theory of general relativity, limits the
spin-to-mass-squared ratio of a Kerr black hole. The no-hair theorem, which is
also believed to be true in the theory of general relativity, suggests a
particular value for the tidal Love number of a non-rotating black hole. Using
the Fisher matrix formalism, we examine the measurability of the spin and tidal
deformability of compact binary systems involving at least one putative black
hole. Using parameter measurement errors and correlations obtained from the
Fisher matrix, we determine the smallest detectable violation of bounds implied
by the cosmic censorship conjecture and the no-hair theorem. We examine the
effect of excluding unphysical areas of parameter space when determining the
smallest detectable apparent violations, and we examine the effect of different
post-Newtonian corrections to the amplitude of the compact binary coalescence
gravitational waveform. In addition, we perform a brief study of how the
recently calculated 3.0 pN and 3.5 pN spin-orbit corrections to the phase
affect spin and mass parameter measurability. We find that physical priors on
the symmetric mass ratio and higher harmonics in the gravitational waveform
could significantly affect the ability of aLIGO to investigate cosmic
censorship and the no-hair theorem for certain systems.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figures, 6 table
Upper limits on gravitational-wave signals based on loudest events
Searches for gravitational-wave bursts have often focused on the loudest
event(s) in searching for detections and in determining upper limits on
astrophysical populations. Typical upper limits have been reported on event
rates and event amplitudes which can then be translated into constraints on
astrophysical populations. We describe the mathematical construction of such
upper limits.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur
FINDCHIRP: an algorithm for detection of gravitational waves from inspiraling compact binaries
Matched-filter searches for gravitational waves from coalescing compact
binaries by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration use the FINDCHIRP algorithm: an
implementation of the optimal filter with innovations to account for unknown
signal parameters and to improve performance on detector data that has
nonstationary and non-Gaussian artifacts. We provide details on the FINDCHIRP
algorithm as used in the search for subsolar mass binaries, binary neutron
stars, neutron star-black hole binaries, and binary black holes.Comment: 19 pages, 1 figure, journal version with Creative Commons 4.0
open-access license adde
A power filter for the detection of burst sources of gravitational radiation in interferometric detectors
We present a filter for detecting gravitational wave signals from burst
sources. This filter requires only minimal advance knowledge of the expected
signal: i.e. the signal's frequency band and time duration. It consists of a
threshold on the total power in the data stream in the specified signal band
during the specified time. This filter is optimal (in the Neyman-Pearson sense)
for signal searches where only this minimal information is available.Comment: 3 pages, RevTeX, GWDAW '99 proceedings contribution, submitted to
Int. J. Modern Phys.
Inferring the neutron star equation of state from binary inspiral waveforms
The properties of neutron star matter above nuclear density are not precisely
known. Gravitational waves emitted from binary neutron stars during their late
stages of inspiral and merger contain imprints of the neutron-star equation of
state. Measuring departures from the point-particle limit of the late inspiral
waveform allows one to measure properties of the equation of state via
gravitational wave observations. This and a companion talk by J. S. Read
reports a comparison of numerical waveforms from simulations of inspiraling
neutron-star binaries, computed for equations of state with varying stiffness.
We calculate the signal strength of the difference between waveforms for
various commissioned and proposed interferometric gravitational wave detectors
and show that observations at frequencies around 1 kHz will be able to measure
a compactness parameter and constrain the possible neutron-star equations of
state.Comment: Talk given at the 12th Marcel Grossman Meeting, Paris, France, 12-18
Jul 200
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
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