Directed search for continuous gravitational waves from the possible kilonova remnant G4.8+6.2

TL;DR

This study conducted a directed search for continuous gravitational waves from the potential kilonova remnant G4.8+6.2 using LIGO O3b data, setting upper limits on gravitational wave strain but finding no signal.

Contribution

First directed search for continuous gravitational waves from G4.8+6.2, providing upper limits and comparing with other all-sky search results.

Findings

No gravitational wave signal detected.

Upper limits set on gravitational wave strain.

Comparison with other search pipelines included.

Abstract

G4.8+6.2 was proposed as a possible kilonova remnant associated with the Korean guest star of AD 1163 in our Milky Way galaxy. Its age is about 860 years according to the historical record. If a neutron star was left in the center of G4.8+6.2, this young neutron star may radiate strong continuous gravitational waves, which could beat the indirect age-based upper limit with current LIGO sensitivity. In this work, we searched such continuous gravitational waves in the frequency band $20-1500 \mathrm{~Hz}$. This search used two days of LIGO O3b data from the Hanford and Livingston detectors. While no signal was found, we placed upper limits on the gravitational wave strain. For comparison, we also showed the latest results of all-sky searches obtained with various search pipelines. With upgrading of the gravitational wave detectors, it will provide the opportunity to see whether a black hole or a neutron star is harbored inside G4.8+6.2.