Report on an all-sky LIGO search for periodic gravitational waves in the S4 data

TL;DR

This paper presents an all-sky search for periodic gravitational waves using LIGO S4 data, applying three semi-coherent methods, and sets upper limits on strain amplitude to constrain neutron star radiation.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive search for continuous gravitational waves in the 50-1000 Hz range using multiple semi-coherent methods on LIGO S4 data, establishing new upper limits.

Findings

No evidence of periodic gravitational waves was found.

Upper limits on strain amplitude were established.

Constraints on neutron star radiation were improved.

Abstract

We report on an all-sky search with the LIGO detectors for periodic gravitational waves in the frequency range 50-1000 Hz and having a negative frequency time derivative with magnitude between zero and $10^{-8}$ Hz/s. Data from the fourth LIGO science run have been used in this search. Three different semi-coherent methods of summing strain power were applied. Observing no evidence for periodic gravitational radiation, we report upper limits on strain amplitude and interpret these limits to constrain radiation from rotating neutron stars.