arXiv subjects

A. Pai

Publications and source records attributed to A. Pai.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Discovery and Spectroscopic Characterization of a Distant, Compact Milky Way Satellite in Gemini

We present the discovery of a compact Milky Way satellite in the constellation of Gemini. This system was discovered by cross-matching detections from two independent search algorithms applied to Blanco/DECam data from the third data release of the DECam Local Volume Exploration survey (DELVE DR3), and confirmed with deeper imaging from Gemini/GMOS-N. Based on these data, we determine that the system is an ultra-faint ($M_V = -2.1^{+0.4}_{-0.6}$), compact ($r_{1/2} = 8.6^{+1.4}_{-1.2}$ pc) system located at a heliocentric distance of $120^{+7}_{-6}$ kpc. These physical properties place the system in the regime of ambiguous, ultra-faint compact Milky Way halo satellites that cannot be confidently classified as dwarf galaxies or star clusters from morphology alone; we therefore name the system DELVE 8/Gemini I. From medium-resolution Keck/DEIMOS spectroscopy, we securely identify four members including two blue horizontal branch stars, confirming the system as a bound satellite moving at a mean radial velocity of $v_{\rm hel} = -82.7^{+3.7}_{-3.9} {\rm km\,s}^{-1}$. We also use these spectra to place an upper limit of $\rm [Fe/H] \lesssim -2.5$ on the metallicity of DELVE 8/Gemini I's brightest star, supporting the classification of the system as either an ancient star cluster or ultra-faint dwarf galaxy. The discovery of faint, distant systems similar to DELVE 8/Gemini I is expected to become more common with upcoming surveys.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2019

Astrophysical signal consistency test adapted for gravitational-wave transient searches

Gravitational wave astronomy is established with direct observation of gravitational wave from merging binary black holes and binary neutron stars during the first and second observing run of LIGO and Virgo detectors. The gravitational-wave transient searches mainly categories into two families: modeled and modeled-independent searches. The modeled searches are based on matched filtering techniques and model-independent searches are based on the extraction of excess power from time-frequency representations. We have proposed a hybrid method, called wavegraph that mixes the two approaches. It uses astrophysical information at the extraction stage of model-independent search using a mathematical graph. In this work, we assess the performance of wavegraph clustering in real LIGO and Virgo noises (the sixth science run and the first observing run) and using the coherent WaveBurst transient search as a backbone. Further, we propose a new signal consistency test for this algorithm. This test uses the amplitude profile information to distinguish between the gravitational wave transients from the noisy glitches. This test is able to remove a large fraction of loud glitches, which thus results in additional overall sensitivity in the context of searches for binary black-hole mergers in the low-mass range.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Driving unmodelled gravitational-wave transient searches using astrophysical information

Transient gravitational-wave searches can be divided into two main families of approaches: modelled and unmodelled searches, based on matched filtering techniques and time-frequency excess power identification respectively. The former, mostly applied in the context of compact binary searches, relies on the precise knowledge of the expected gravitational-wave phase evolution. This information is not always available at the required accuracy for all plausible astrophysical scenarios, e.g., in presence of orbital precession, or eccentricity. The other search approach imposes little priors on the targetted signal. We propose an intermediate route based on a modification of unmodelled search methods in which time-frequency pattern matching is constrained by astrophysical waveform models (but not requiring accurate prediction for the waveform phase evolution). The set of astrophysically motivated patterns is conveniently encapsulated in a graph, that encodes the time-frequency pixels and their co-occurrence. This allows the use of efficient graph-based optimization techniques to perform the pattern search in the data. We show in the example of black-hole binary searches that such an approach leads to an averaged increase in the distance reach (+7-8\%) for this specific source over standard unmodelled searches.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2003

Time Delay Interferometry and LISA Optimal Sensitivity

The sensitivity of LISA depends on the suppression of several noise sources; dominant one is laser frequency noise. It has been shown that the six Doppler data streams obtained from three space-crafts can be appropriately time delayed and optimally combined to cancel this laser frequency noise. We show that the optimal data combinations when operated in a network mode improves the sensitivity over Michelson ranging from 40 % to 100 %. In this article, we summarize these results. We further show that the residual laser noise in the optimal data combination due to typical arm-length inaccuracy of 200 m is much below the level of optical path and the proof mass noises.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

Optimising the directional sensitivity of LISA

It was shown in a previous work that the data combinations canceling laser frequency noise constitute a module - the module of syzygies. The cancellation of laser frequency noise is crucial for obtaining the requisite sensitivity for LISA. In this work we show how the sensitivity of LISA can be optimised for a monochromatic source - a compact binary - whose direction is known, by using appropriate data combinations in the module. A stationary source in the barycentric frame appears to move in the LISA frame and our strategy consists of "coherently tracking" the source by appropriately "switching" the data combinations so that they remain optimal at all times. Assuming that the polarisation of the source is not known, we average the signal over the polarisations. We find that the best statistic is the `network' statistic, in which case LISA can be construed of as two independent detectors. We compare our results with the Michelson combination, which has been used for obtaining the standard sensitivity curve for LISA, and with the observable obtained by optimally switching the three Michelson combinations. We find that for sources lying in the ecliptic plane the improvement in SNR increases from 34% at low frequencies to nearly 90% at around 20 mHz. Finally we present the signal-to-noise ratios for some known binaries in our galaxy. We also show that, if at low frequencies SNRs of both polarisations can be measured, the inclination angle of the plane of the orbit of the binary can be estimated.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2002

Improving the Sensitivity of LISA

It has been shown in the past, that the six Doppler data streams obtained LISA configuration can be combined by appropriately delaying the data streams for cancelling the laser frequency noise. Raw laser noise is several orders of magnitude above the other noises and thus it is essential to bring it down to the level of shot, acceleration noises. A rigorous and systematic formalism using the techniques of computational commutative algebra was developed which generates all the data combinations cancelling the laser frequency noise. The relevant data combinations form a first module of syzygies. In this paper we use this formalism for optimisation of the LISA sensitivity by analysing the noise and signal covariance matrices. The signal covariance matrix, averaged over polarisations and directions, is calculated for binaries whose frequency changes at most adiabatically. We then present the extremal SNR curves for all the data combinations in the module. They correspond to the eigenvectors of the noise and signal covariance matrices. We construct LISA `network' SNR by combining the outputs of the eigenvectors which improves the LISA sensitivity substantially. The maximum SNR curve can yield an improvement upto 70 % over the Michelson, mainly at high frequencies, while the improvement using the network SNR ranges from 40 % to over 100 %. Finally, we describe a simple toy model, in which LISA rotates in a plane. In this analysis, we estimate the improvement in the LISA sensitivity, if one switches from one data combination to another as it rotates. Here the improvement in sensitivity, if one switches optimally over three cyclic data combinations of the eigenvector is about 55 % on an average over the LISA band-width. The corresponding SNR improvement is 60 %, if one maximises over the module.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

Radiation Pressure Induced Instabilities in Laser Interferometric Detectors of Gravitational Waves

The large scale interferometric gravitational wave detectors consist of Fabry-Perot cavities operating at very high powers ranging from tens of kW to MW for next generations. The high powers may result in several nonlinear effects which would affect the performance of the detector. In this paper, we investigate the effects of radiation pressure, which tend to displace the mirrors from their resonant position resulting in the detuning of the cavity. We observe a remarkable effect, namely, that the freely hanging mirrors gain energy continuously and swing with increasing amplitude. It is found that the `time delay', that is, the time taken for the field to adjust to its instantaneous equilibrium value, when the mirrors are in motion, is responsible for this effect. This effect is likely to be important in the optimal operation of the full-scale interferometers such as VIRGO and LIGO.

gr-qc↗