Binary Inspiral Publications

Results of Searches for Binary Inspiral in LIGO Data

• Search for Gravitational Waves from Primordial Black Hole Binary Coalescences in the Galactic Halo (B. Abbott, et. al.)
  
  We use data from the second science run of the LIGO gravitational-wave detectors to search for the gravitational waves from primordial black hole (PBH) binary coalescence with component masses in the range 0.2 to 1.0 solar masses. The analysis requires a signal to be found in the data from both LIGO observatories, according to a set of coincidence criteria. No inspiral signals were found. Assuming a spherical halo with core radius 5 kpc extending to 50 kpc containing non-spinning black holes with masses in the range 0.2 to 1.0 , we place an observational upper limit on the rate of PBH solar masses coalescence of 63 per year per Milky Way halo (MWH) with 90% confidence.
  
  
• Search for gravitational waves from galactic and extra-galactic binary neutron stars (B. Abbott et. al.)
  
  We use 373 hours (approximately 15 days) of data from the second science run of the LIGO gravitational-wave detectors to search for signals from binary neutron star coalescences within a maximum distance of about 1.5 Mpc, a volume of space which includes the Andromeda Galaxy and other galaxies of the Local Group of galaxies. This analysis requires a signal to be found in data from detectors at the two LIGO sites, according to a set of coincidence criteria. The background (accidental coincidence rate) is determined from the data and is used to judge the significance of event candidates. No inspiral gravitational wave events were identified in our search. Using a population model which includes the Local Group, we establish an upper limit of less than 47 inspiral events per year per Milky Way equivalent galaxy with 90% confidence for non-spinning binary neutron star systems with component masses between 1 and 3 solar masses$.
  
  
• Analysis of LIGO data for gravitational waves from binary neutron stars. (B. Abbott et. al.)
  
  We report on a search for gravitational waves from coalescing compact binary systems in the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds. The analysis uses data taken by two of the three LIGO interferometers during the first LIGO science run and illustrates a method of setting upper limits on inspiral event rates using interferometer data. The analysis pipeline is described with particular attention to data selection and coincidence between the two interferometers. We establish an observational upper limit of R < 170 per year per Milky Way Equivalent Galaxy (MWEG), with 90% confidence, on the coalescence rate of binary systems in which each component has a mass in the range 1 to 3 solar masses.
  
  

Techincal Papers

• Using the INSPIRAL program to search for gravitational waves from low-mass binary inspiral (Duncan A. Brown for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration)
  
  The INSPIRAL program is the LIGO Scientific Collaboration's computational engine for the search for gravitational waves from binary neutron stars and sub-solar mass black holes. We describe how this program, which makes use of the FINDCHIRP algorithm (discussed in a companion paper), is integrated into a sophisticated data analysis pipeline that was used in the search for low-mass binary inspirals in data taken during the second LIGO science run.
  
  
• Searching for gravitational waves from binary inspirals with LIGO (Duncan A. Brown, et. al.)
  
  We describe the current status of the search for gravitational waves from inspiralling compact binary systems in LIGO data. We review the result from the first scientific run of LIGO (S1). We present the goals of the search of data taken in the second scientific run (S2) and describe the differences between the methods used in S1 and S2.
  
  
• Testing the LIGO Inspiral Analysis with Hardware Injections (Duncan A. Brown for the LIGO Scientific Collaboration)
  
  Injection of simulated binary inspiral signals into detector hardware provides an excellent test of the inspiral detection pipeline. By recovering the physical parameters of an injected signal, we test our understanding of both instrumental calibration and the data analysis pipeline. We describe an inspiral search code and results from hardware injection tests and demonstrate that injected signals can be recovered by the data analysis pipeline. The parameters of the recovered signals match those of the injected signals.