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arXiv · 1104.1704

Search method for long-duration gravitational-wave transients from neutron stars

Reinhard Prix·Stefanos Giampanis·Chris Messenger
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Abstract

We introduce a search method for a new class of gravitational-wave signals, namely long-duration O(hours - weeks) transients from spinning neutron stars. We discuss the astrophysical motivation from glitch relaxation models and we derive a rough estimate for the maximal expected signal strength based on the superfluid excess rotational energy. The transient signal model considered here extends the traditional class of infinite-duration continuous-wave signals by a finite start-time and duration. We derive a multi-detector Bayes factor for these signals in Gaussian noise using $\F$-statistic amplitude priors, which simplifies the detection statistic and allows for an efficient implementation. We consider both a fully coherent statistic, which is computationally limited to directed searches for known pulsars, and a cheaper semi-coherent variant, suitable for wide parameter-space searches for transients from unknown neutron stars. We have tested our method by Monte-Carlo simulation, and we find that it outperforms orthodox maximum-likelihood approaches both in sensitivity and in parameter-estimation quality.

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Reinhard Prix, Stefanos Giampanis, Chris Messenger. 2011-04-09. Search method for long-duration gravitational-wave transients from neutron stars. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.84.023007

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