Extending the Reach of Continous Gravitational Wave Searches

随着先进LIGO第一次和第二次观测运行中引力波（GW）的直接探测，引力波天文学的时代即将到来。 引力波，爱因斯坦广义相对论预测的几何形状和空间和时间的扭曲，为宇宙提供了一个新的窗口，使我们能够补充从电磁波谱的不同部分以及宇宙射线和中微子观测中获得的信息范围。到目前为止，观察到的GW信号是短暂的，并且来自黑洞和中子状态轨道的最后阶段。 该项目旨在探测来自快速旋转的中子星的长寿命GWs，中子星是比太阳质量更大的密度极高的物体，大小相当于一座城市，每秒旋转数十至数百次。 这一搜索的主要目标是与低质量恒星在双星轨道上的中子星。 中子星吸引来自其伴星的物质，这些物质为它们的旋转提供动力并发射X射线，从而允许多信使分析。该项目将涉及罗切斯特理工学院的教师和学生，他们将通过几种方式扩大多信使努力，从低质量X射线双星（LMXB）中寻找GWs：1）通过算法改进和模拟数据验证，确保对天蝎座X-1（最亮的LMXB）的搜索尽可能敏感，2）将搜索扩展到其他LMXB，以及3）对双星系统中未知中子星的现有搜索实施分级后续。 该小组还将通过将改进的检测统计纳入LSC算法库来提高各种连续波搜索的灵敏度。 寻找Sco X-1，以及吸积双星J1751-305，天鹅座X-3和4U 1636-536，被LIGO科学合作组织认为是最高优先级，该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并被认为值得通过利用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响进行评估来支持审查标准。

With the direct detection of Gravitational Waves (GWs) in Advanced LIGO's first and second observing runs, the era of Gravitational Wave Astronomy is upon us. Gravitational waves, distortions of the geometry and space and time predicted by Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, provide a new window on the universe, allowing us to supplement the range of information available from different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum and from cosmic ray and neutrino observations. The GW signals observed so far have been short-lived, and from the final stages of black holes and neutron stats orbiting into one another. This project is aimed at detection of long-lived GWs from rapidly spinning neutron stars, extremely dense objects more massive than the Sun and the size of a city, spinning tens to hundreds of times every second. The main targets for this search are neutron stars in binary orbits with lower-mass stars. The neutron stars attract material from their companions, which powers their rotation and emits X-rays, allowing a multimessenger analysis.This project will involve faculty and students of the Rochester Institute of Technology, who will broaden the multimessenger effort to search for GWs from low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) in several ways: 1) ensuring the search for Scorpius X-1, the brightest LMXB, is as sensitive as possible with algorithmic improvements and mock data validation, 2) expanding the search to other LMXBs, and 3) implementing a hierarchical followup to existing searches for unknown neutron stars in binary systems. The group will also enhance the sensitivity of a variety of continuous-wave searches by incorporating an improved detection statistic into the LSC algorithm library. The search for the Sco X-1, as well as accreting binaries J1751-305, Cygnus X-3, and 4U 1636-536, is considered a highest priority by the LIGO scientific collaboration, and this award will be instrumental in maximizing its success.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.