Gravitational wave detectability range informed by external messengers

TL;DR

The paper introduces the Targeted Detectability Range (TDR), a quick method to estimate gravitational-wave detectability for transients associated with external messengers, enhancing multi-messenger astronomy.

Contribution

It presents the TDR method that uses external messenger data to improve GW detectability estimates with minimal computational effort.

Findings

Applied TDR to all gamma-ray bursts from LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA runs.

Validated TDR by comparing with 90% exclusion distances from targeted GW searches.

Demonstrated TDR's effectiveness in multi-messenger follow-up planning.

Abstract

A rapid estimate of gravitational-wave (GW) detectability associated with astronomical transients is crucial for optimizing multi-messenger follow-up strategies and for constraining the physical origin of the transient itself. We introduce here the Targeted Detectability Range (TDR), designed to evaluate with minimal computational effort the detectability of compact binary coalescences under the hypothesis of association with an external messenger, such as an electromagnetic or neutrino signal. Unlike the standard GW range, which is based on averaged source parameters, the TDR incorporates prior information from observations of the external messenger, including sky localization, inclination constraints, and physically motivated bounds on component masses. We report the detectability range of all gamma-ray bursts, short and long duration, observed during the first three observing runs of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration. The method is validated by performing a systematic comparison with the 90$\%$ exclusion distances provided by modeled targeted GW searches.