A note on identifying continuous gravitational wave emission signatures of magnetars in gamma-ray bursts

TL;DR

This paper explores how gamma-ray burst X-ray light curves can indirectly reveal continuous gravitational wave signatures from magnetars, addressing key uncertainties and criteria for identifying such signals.

Contribution

It clarifies the mechanisms linking magnetar GW emissions to GRB light curves and establishes criteria for sample selection and analysis.

Findings

Provides detailed explanation of the GRB-magnetar GW connection

Identifies criteria for selecting GRB samples indicative of GW signals

Discusses limitations and challenges of the scenario

Abstract

Continuous gravitational waves (GWs) of neutrons stars haven't been detected directly until now. One possible way to indirectly identify their signatures is via the correlation between magnetars and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), since, under this magnetar scenario of GRBs, GW radiation can affect the evolution of GRB X-ray light curves. Nevertheless, relevant studies lack essential details of this GRB magnetar scenario. For instance, the authors tend to avoid answering the questions like why GRB X-ray light curves can record the information of gravitational wave emissions, what are the reliable criteria for selecting samples that can reveal GW information, and what are the limitations of this GRB-magnetar scenario. In this paper, we elucidate these issues in detail.