# Searches for Continuous Gravitational Waves from Fifteen Supernova Remnants and Fomalhaut b with Advanced LIGO

## TL;DR

This paper reports on directed searches for continuous gravitational waves from 16 candidate neutron stars, including supernova remnants and Fomalhaut b, using Advanced LIGO data, resulting in no detections but setting stringent upper limits.

## Contribution

First comprehensive search for continuous gravitational waves from these specific neutron star candidates with advanced LIGO, establishing new upper limits on gravitational wave strain and neutron star properties.

## Key findings

- No astrophysical signals detected.
- Set upper limits on gravitational wave strain at 1e-25.
- Constrained neutron star ellipticity and r-mode amplitudes.

## Abstract

We describe directed searches for continuous gravitational waves from sixteen well localized candidate neutron stars assuming none of the stars has a binary companion. The searches were directed toward fifteen supernova remnants and Fomalhaut~b, an extrasolar planet candidate which has been suggested to be a nearby old neutron star. Each search covered a broad band of frequencies and first and second time derivatives. After coherently integrating spans of data from the first Advanced LIGO observing run of 3.5--53.7 days per search, applying data-based vetoes and discounting known instrumental artifacts, we found no astrophysical signals. We set upper limits on intrinsic gravitational wave strain as strict as $1\times10^{-25}$, on fiducial neutron star ellipticity as strict as $2\times10^{-9}$, and on fiducial $r$-mode amplitude as strict as $3\times10^{-8}$.