Search for gravitational waves from galactic and extra--galactic binary neutron stars

TL;DR

This study analyzed 373 hours of LIGO data to search for gravitational waves from binary neutron star mergers within 1.5 Mpc, but found no events, setting an upper limit on event rates in the local universe.

Contribution

First search for gravitational waves from binary neutron stars within the Local Group using LIGO data, establishing new upper limits on event rates.

Findings

No gravitational wave events detected.

Set an upper limit of 47 events per year per galaxy.

Analyzed data from the second LIGO science run.

Abstract

We use 373 hours ($\approx$ 15 days) of data from the second science run of the LIGO gravitational-wave detectors to search for signals from binary neutron star coalescences within a maximum distance of about 1.5 Mpc, a volume of space which includes the Andromeda Galaxy and other galaxies of the Local Group of galaxies. This analysis requires a signal to be found in data from detectors at the two LIGO sites, according to a set of coincidence criteria. The background (accidental coincidence rate) is determined from the data and is used to judge the significance of event candidates. No inspiral gravitational wave events were identified in our search. Using a population model which includes the Local Group, we establish an upper limit of less than 47 inspiral events per year per Milky Way equivalent galaxy with 90% confidence for non-spinning binary neutron star systems with component masses between 1 and 3 $M_\odot$.