arXiv subjects

M. Bejger

Publications and source records attributed to M. Bejger.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

Search for gravitational waves associated with gamma-ray bursts during LIGO science run 6 and Virgo science runs 2 and 3

We present the results of a search for gravitational waves associated with 154 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) that were detected by satellite-based gamma-ray experiments in 2009-2010, during the sixth LIGO science run and the second and third Virgo science runs. We perform two distinct searches: a modeled search for coalescences of either two neutron stars or a neutron star and black hole; and a search for generic, unmodeled gravitational-wave bursts. We find no evidence for gravitational-wave counterparts, either with any individual GRB in this sample or with the population as a whole. For all GRBs we place lower bounds on the distance to the progenitor, under the optimistic assumption of a gravitational-wave emission energy of 10^-2 M c^2 at 150 Hz, with a median limit of 17 Mpc. For short hard GRBs we place exclusion distances on binary neutron star and neutron star-black hole progenitors, using astrophysically motivated priors on the source parameters, with median values of 16 Mpc and 28 Mpc respectively. These distance limits, while significantly larger than for a search that is not aided by GRB satellite observations, are not large enough to expect a coincidence with a GRB. However, projecting these exclusions to the sensitivities of Advanced LIGO and Virgo, which should begin operation in 2015, we find that the detection of gravitational waves associated with GRBs will become quite possible.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2012

Einstein@Home all-sky search for periodic gravitational waves in LIGO S5 data

This paper presents results of an all-sky searches for periodic gravitational waves in the frequency range [50, 1190] Hz and with frequency derivative ranges of [-2 x 10^-9, 1.1 x 10^-10] Hz/s for the fifth LIGO science run (S5). The novelty of the search lies in the use of a non-coherent technique based on the Hough-transform to combine the information from coherent searches on timescales of about one day. Because these searches are very computationally intensive, they have been deployed on the Einstein@Home distributed computing project infrastructure. The search presented here is about a factor 3 more sensitive than the previous Einstein@Home search in early S5 LIGO data. The post-processing has left us with eight surviving candidates. We show that deeper follow-up studies rule each of them out. Hence, since no statistically significant gravitational wave signals have been detected, we report upper limits on the intrinsic gravitational wave amplitude h0. For example, in the 0.5 Hz-wide band at 152.5 Hz, we can exclude the presence of signals with h0 greater than 7.6 x 10^-25 with a 90% confidence level.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

The characterization of Virgo data and its impact on gravitational-wave searches

Between 2007 and 2010 Virgo collected data in coincidence with the LIGO and GEO gravitational-wave (GW) detectors. These data have been searched for GWs emitted by cataclysmic phenomena in the universe, by non-axisymmetric rotating neutron stars or from a stochastic background in the frequency band of the detectors. The sensitivity of GW searches is limited by noise produced by the detector or its environment. It is therefore crucial to characterize the various noise sources in a GW detector. This paper reviews the Virgo detector noise sources, noise propagation, and conversion mechanisms which were identified in the three first Virgo observing runs. In many cases, these investigations allowed us to mitigate noise sources in the detector, or to selectively flag noise events and discard them from the data. We present examples from the joint LIGO-GEO-Virgo GW searches to show how well noise transients and narrow spectral lines have been identified and excluded from the Virgo data. We also discuss how detector characterization can improve the astrophysical reach of gravitational-wave searches.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Search for Gravitational Waves from Intermediate Mass Binary Black Holes

We present the results of a weakly modeled burst search for gravitational waves from mergers of non-spinning intermediate mass black holes (IMBH) in the total mass range 100--450 solar masses and with the component mass ratios between 1:1 and 4:1. The search was conducted on data collected by the LIGO and Virgo detectors between November of 2005 and October of 2007. No plausible signals were observed by the search which constrains the astrophysical rates of the IMBH mergers as a function of the component masses. In the most efficiently detected bin centered on 88+88 solar masses, for non-spinning sources, the rate density upper limit is 0.13 per Mpc^3 per Myr at the 90% confidence level.

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arXiv2012

All-sky search for gravitational-wave bursts in the second joint LIGO-Virgo run

We present results from a search for gravitational-wave bursts in the data collected by the LIGO and Virgo detectors between July 7, 2009 and October 20, 2010: data are analyzed when at least two of the three LIGO-Virgo detectors are in coincident operation, with a total observation time of 207 days. The analysis searches for transients of duration < 1 s over the frequency band 64-5000 Hz, without other assumptions on the signal waveform, polarization, direction or occurrence time. All identified events are consistent with the expected accidental background. We set frequentist upper limits on the rate of gravitational-wave bursts by combining this search with the previous LIGO-Virgo search on the data collected between November 2005 and October 2007. The upper limit on the rate of strong gravitational-wave bursts at the Earth is 1.3 events per year at 90% confidence. We also present upper limits on source rate density per year and Mpc^3 for sample populations of standard-candle sources. As in the previous joint run, typical sensitivities of the search in terms of the root-sum-squared strain amplitude for these waveforms lie in the range 5 10^-22 Hz^-1/2 to 1 10^-20 Hz^-1/2. The combination of the two joint runs entails the most sensitive all-sky search for generic gravitational-wave bursts and synthesizes the results achieved by the initial generation of interferometric detectors.

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arXiv2012

Upper limits on a stochastic gravitational-wave background using LIGO and Virgo interferometers at 600-1000 Hz

A stochastic background of gravitational waves is expected to arise from a superposition of many incoherent sources of gravitational waves, of either cosmological or astrophysical origin. This background is a target for the current generation of ground-based detectors. In this article we present the first joint search for a stochastic background using data from the LIGO and Virgo interferometers. In a frequency band of 600-1000 Hz, we obtained a 95% upper limit on the amplitude of $Ω_{\rm GW}(f) = Ω_3 (f/900 \mathrm{Hz})^3$, of $Ω_3 < 0.33$, assuming a value of the Hubble parameter of $h_{100}=0.72$. These new limits are a factor of seven better than the previous best in this frequency band.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2011

Implications of the measured parameters of PSR J1903+0327 for its progenitor neutron star

Using the intrinsic PSR J1903+0327 parameters evaluated from radio observations (mass, rotation period and dipole magnetic field deduced from the timing properties) we calculate the mass of its neutron star progenitor, M_i, at the onset of accretion. Simultaneously, we derive constraints on average accretion rate Mdot and the pre-accretion magnetic field B_i. Spin-up is modelled by accretion from a thin disk, using the magnetic-torque disk-pulsar coupling model proposed by Kluzniak and Rappaport (2007), improved for the existence of relativistic marginally-stable circular orbit. Orbital parameters in the disk are obtained using the space-time generated by a rotating neutron star in the framework of General Relativity. We employ an observationally motivated model of the surface magnetic field decay. We also seek for the imprint of the poorly known equation of state of dense matter on the spin-up tracks - three equations of state of dense matter, consistent with the existence of 2 Msun neutron star, are considered. We find that the minimum average accretion rate should be larger than 2-8 10^(-10) Msun/yr, the highest lower bound corresponding to the stiffest equation of state. We conclude that the influence of magnetic field in the "recycling" process is crucial - it leads to a significant decrease of spin-up rate and larger accreted masses, in comparison to the B=0 model. Allowed B_i-dependent values of M_i are within 1.0-1.4 Msun, i.e., much lower than an oversimplified but widely used B=0 result, where one gets M_i>1.55 Msun. Estimated initial neutron-star mass depends on the assumed dense-matter equation of state.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2011

Compression of matter in the center of accreting neutron stars

To estimate the feasibility of dense-matter phase transition, we studied the evolution of the central density as well as the baryon chemical potential of accreting neutron stars. We compared the thin-disk accretion with and without the magnetic field torque with the spin-down scenario for a selection of recent equations of state. We compared the prevalent (in the recycled-pulsar context) Keplerian thin-disk model, in which the matter is accreted from the marginally-stable circular orbit, with the recent magnetic-torque model that takes into account the influence of stellar magnetic field on the effective inner boundary of the disk. Calculations were performed using a multi-domain spectral methods code in the framework of General Relativity. We considered three equations of state consistent with the recently measured mass of PSR J1614-2230, 1.97 +- 0.04 M_sun (one of them softened by the appearance of hyperons). If there is no magnetic torque and efficient angular momentum transfer from the disk to the star, substantial central compression is limited to the region of initial stellar masses close to the maximum mass. Outside the maximum mass vicinity, accretion-induced central compression is significant only if the angular momentum transfer is inefficient. Accounting for the magnetic field effectively decreases the efficiency of angular momentum transfer and implies a significant central compression. An efficient angular momentum transfer from a thin disk onto a non-magnetized neutron star does not provide a good mechanism for the central compression and possible phase transition. Substantial central compression is possible for a broad range of masses of slowly-rotating initial configurations for magnetized neutron stars. Accretion-induced central compression is particularly strong for stiff equation of state with a high-density softening.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

Hyperons in neutron-star cores and two-solar-mass pulsar

Recent measurement of mass of PSR J1614-2230 rules out most of existing models of equation of state (EOS) of dense matter with high-density softening due to hyperonization or a phase transition to quark matter or a boson condensate. We look for a solution of an apparent contradiction between the consequences stemming from up-to-date hypernuclear data, indicating appearance of hyperons at 3 nuclear densities and existence of a two-solar-mass neutron star. We consider a non-linear relativistic mean field (RMF) model involving baryon octet coupled to meson fields. An effective lagrangian includes quartic terms in the meson fields. The values of the parameters of the model are obtained by fitting semi-empirical parameters of nuclear matter at the saturation point, as well as potential wells for hyperons in nuclear matter and the strength of the Lambda-Lambda attraction in double-Lambda hypernuclei. We propose a non-linear RMF model which is consistent with up-to-date semiempirical nuclear and hypernuclear data and allows for neutron stars with hyperon cores and M larger than 2 solar masses. The model involves hidden-strangenes scalar and vector mesons, coupled to hyperons only, and quartic terms involving vector meson fields. Our EOS involving hyperons is stiffer than the corresponding nucleonic EOS (with hyperons artificially suppressed) above five nuclear densities. Required stiffening is generated by the quartic terms involving hidden-strangeness vector meson.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2011

Beating the spin-down limit on gravitational wave emission from the Vela pulsar

We present direct upper limits on continuous gravitational wave emission from the Vela pulsar using data from the Virgo detector's second science run. These upper limits have been obtained using three independent methods that assume the gravitational wave emission follows the radio timing. Two of the methods produce frequentist upper limits for an assumed known orientation of the star's spin axis and value of the wave polarization angle of, respectively, $1.9\ee{-24}$ and $2.2\ee{-24}$, with 95% confidence. The third method, under the same hypothesis, produces a Bayesian upper limit of $2.1\ee{-24}$, with 95% degree of belief. These limits are below the indirect {\it spin-down limit} of $3.3\ee{-24}$ for the Vela pulsar, defined by the energy loss rate inferred from observed decrease in Vela's spin frequency, and correspond to a limit on the star ellipticity of $\sim 10^{-3}$. Slightly less stringent results, but still well below the spin-down limit, are obtained assuming the star's spin axis inclination and the wave polarization angles are unknown.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2010

Approximate analytic expressions for circular orbits around rapidly rotating compact stars

We calculate stationary configurations of rapidly rotating compact stars in general relativity, to study the properties of circular orbits of test particles in the equatorial plane. We search for simple, but precise, analytical formulae for the orbital frequency, specific angular momentum and binding energy of a test particle, valid for any equation of state and for any rotation frequency of the rigidly rotating compact star, up to the mass-shedding limit. Numerical calculations are performed using precise 2-D codes based on multi-domain spectral methods. Models of rigidly rotating neutron stars and the space-time outside them are calculated for several equations of state of dense matter. Calculations are also performed for quark stars consisting of self-bound quark matter. At the mass-shedding limit, the rotational frequency converges to a Schwarzschildian orbital frequency at the equator. We show that orbital frequency for any orbit outside equator is also approximated by a Schwarzschildian formula. Using a simple approximation for the frame-dragging term, we obtain approximate expressions for the specific angular momentum and specific energy on the corotating circular orbits in the equatorial plane of neutron star, which are valid down to the stellar equator. The formulae recover reference numerical values with typically 1% of accuracy for neutron stars with M > 0.5 M_sun. They are less precise for quark stars consisting of self-bound quark matter.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2009

Luminosity of a quark star undergoing torsional oscillations and the problem of gamma ray bursts

We discuss whether the winding-up of the magnetic field by differential rotation in a new-born quark star can produce a sufficiently-high, energy, emission rate of sufficiently long duration to explain long gamma-ray bursts. In the context of magnetohydrodynamics, we study the torsional oscillations and energy extraction from a new-born, hot, differentially rotating quark star. The new-born compact star is a rapid rotator that produces a relativistic, leptonic wind. The star's torsional oscillation modulates this wind emission considerably when it is odd and of sufficient amplitude, which is relatively easy to reach. Odd oscillations may occur just after the formation of a quark star. Other asymmetries can cause similar effects. The buoyancy of wound-up magnetic fields is inhibited, or its effects are limited, by a variety of different mechanisms. Direct electromagnetic emission by the torsional oscillation in either an outside vacuum or the leptonic wind surrounding the compact object is found to be insignificant. In contrast, the twist given to the outer magnetic field by an odd torsional oscillation is generally sufficient to open the star's magnetosphere. The Poynting emission of the star in its leptonic environment is then radiated from all of its surface and is enhanced considerably during these open episodes, tapping at the bulk rotational energy of the star. This results in intense energy shedding in the first tens of minutes after the collapse of magnetized quark stars with an initial poloidal field of order of 10**14 Gauss, sufficient to explain long gamma-ray bursts.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2009

Keplerian frequency of uniformly rotating neutron stars and quark stars

We calculate Keplerian (mass shedding) configurations of rigidly rotating neutron stars and quark stars with crusts. We check the validity of empirical formula for Keplerian frequency, f_K, proposed by Lattimer & Prakash, f_K(M)=C (M/M_sun)^1/2 (R/10km)^-3/2, where M is the (gravitational) mass of Keplerian configuration, R is the (circumferential) radius of the non-rotating configuration of the same gravitational mass, and C = 1.04 kHz. Numerical calculations are performed using precise 2-D codes based on the multi-domain spectral methods. We use a representative set of equations of state (EOSs) of neutron stars and quark stars. We show that the empirical formula for f_K(M) holds within a few percent for neutron stars with realistic EOSs, provided 0.5 M_sun < M < 0.9 M_max,stat, where M_max,stat is the maximum allowable mass of non-rotating neutron stars for an EOS, and C=C_NS=1.08 kHz. Similar precision is obtained for quark stars with 0.5 M_sun < M < 0.9 M_max,stat. For maximal crust masses we obtain C_QS = 1.15 kHz, and the value of C_QS is not very sensitive to the crust mass. All our C's are significantly larger than the analytic value from the relativistic Roche model, C_Roche = 1.00 kHz. For 0.5 M_sun < M < 0.9 M_max,stat, the equatorial radius of Keplerian configuration of mass M, R_K(M), is, to a very good approximation, proportional to the radius of the non-rotating star of the same mass, R_K(M) = aR(M), with a_NS \approx a_QS \approx 1.44. The value of a_QS is very weakly dependent on the mass of the crust of the quark star. Both a's are smaller than the analytic value a_Roche = 1.5 from the relativistic Roche model.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2008

Deformation and crustal rigidity of rotating neutron stars

We calculate parameters A and B of the Baym-Pines model of the hydro-elastic equilibrium of rotating neutron stars. Parameter A determines the energy increase of a non-rotating star due to a quadrupolar deformation of its shape. Parameter B determines residual quadrupolar deformation due to the crustal shear strain, in a neutron star that spun-down to a non-rotating state. The calculations of A are based on precise numerical 2-D calculations for rotating neutron stars with realistic equations of state (EOSs) of dense matter. An approximate, but quite precise, formula for B is used, which allows us to separate the contribution of the crust from the dependence on the stellar mass M and radius R. The elastic shear strain distribution within the crust is modeled following Cutler et al. (2003). A(M) and B(M) are calculated for 0.2Msun < M < 0.9M_max for seven EOSs of neutron star core, combined with several crust models. A standard formula based on the incompressible fluid model is shown to severely underestimate the value of A. For M<0.7Msun A(M) is nearly EOS independent and are given (within a few percent) by a universal formula A=3.87(M/Msun)^7/3 [10^53 erg]. We derive the scaling of B with respect to R and M, valid also for a thick crust. We show that B for accreted crust strongly depends on pycnonuclear fusions at rho>10^12 g/cm^3.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Fast rotation of neutron stars and equation of state of dense matter

Fast rotation of compact stars (at submillisecond period) and, in particular, their stability, are sensitive to the equation of state (EOS) of dense matter. Recent observations of XTE J1739-285 suggest that it contains a neutron star rotating at 1122 Hz (Kaaret et al. 2007). At such rotational frequency the effects of rotation on star's structure are significant. We study the interplay of fast rotation, EOS and gravitational mass of a submillisecond pulsar. We discuss the EOS dependence of spin-up to a submillisecond period, via mass accretion from a disk in a low-mass X-ray binary.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

EOS of dense matter and fast rotation of neutron stars

Recent observations of XTE J1739-285 suggest that it contains a neutron star rotating at 1122 Hz. Such rotational frequency would be the first for which the effects of rotation are significant. We study the consequences of very fast rotating neutron stars for the potentially observable quantities as stellar mass and pulsar period.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

The energy release--stellar angular momentum independence in rotating compact stars undergoing first-order phase transitions

We present the general relativistic calculation of the energy release associated with a first order phase transition (PT) at the center of a rotating neutron star (NS). The energy release, E_rel, is equal to the difference in mass-energies between the initial (normal) phase configuration and the final configuration containing a superdense matter core, assuming constant total baryon number and the angular momentum. The calculations are performed with the use of precise pseudo-spectral 2-D numerical code; the polytropic equations of state (EOS) as well as realistic EOSs (Skyrme interactions, Mean Field Theory kaon condensate) are used. The results are obtained for a broad range of metastability of initial configuration and size of the new superdense phase core in the final configuration. For a fixed ``overpressure'', dP, defined as the relative excess of central pressure of a collapsing metastable star over the pressure of the equilibrium first-order PT, the energy release up to numerical accuracy does not depend on the stellar angular momentum and coincides with that for nonrotating stars with the same dP. When the equatorial radius of the superdense phase core is much smaller than the equatorial radius of the star, analytical expressions for the E_rel can be obtained: E_rel is proportional to dP^2.5 for small dP. At higher dP, the results of 1-D calculations of E_rel(dP) for non-rotating stars reproduce with very high precision exact 2-D results for fast-rotating stars. The energy release-angular momentum independence for a given overpressure holds also for the so-called ``strong'' PTs (that destabilise the star against the axi-symmetric perturbations), as well as for PTs with ``jumping'' over the energy barrier.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Strong first-order phase transition in a rotating neutron star core and the associated energy release

We calculate the energy release associated with a strong first-order phase transition, from normal phase N to an "exotic" superdense phase S, in a rotating neutron star. Such a phase transition, accompanied by a density jump rho_N --> rho_S, is characterized by rho_S/rho_N > 3/2(1+P_0/rho_N c^2), where P_0 is the pressure, at which phase transition occurs. Configurations with small S-phase cores are then unstable and collapse into stars with large S-phase cores. The energy release is equal to the difference in mass-energies between the initial (normal) configuration and the final configuration containing an S-phase core, total stellar baryon mass and angular momentum being kept constant. The calculations of the energy release are based on precise numerical 2-D calculations. Polytropic equations of state (EOSs) as well as realistic EOS with strong first-order phase transition due to kaon condensation are used. For polytropic EOSs, a large parameter space is studied. For a fixed "overpressure", dP, defined as the relative excess of central pressure of collapsing metastable star over the pressure of equilibrium first-order phase transition, the energy release E_rel does not depend on the stellar angular momentum. It coincides with that for nonrotating stars with the same dP. Therefore, results of 1-D calculations of E_rel(dP) for non-rotating stars can be used to predict, with very high precision, the outcome of much harder to perform 2-D calculations for rotating stars with the same dP. This result holds also for dP_min < dP < 0, corresponding to phase transitions with climbing over the energy barrier separating metastable N-phase configurations from those with an S-phase core. Such phase transitions could be realized in the cores of newly born, hot, pulsating neutron stars.

astro-ph↗