Abstract

Simulated continuous gravitational wave (CW) signals, called hardware (HW) injections were added to the data in the LIGO detectors' third observing run (O3), including two periodic signals mimicking a spinning neutron star in a binary system, similar to the Low-Mass X-Ray Binary (LMXB) Scorpius X-1 (Sco X-1). Using a cross-correlation pipeline, which searched for CWs from Sco X-1 in O3, we searched for these HW injections, using an uncertainty around the true signal parameters akin to the uncertainty associated with the parameters of Sco X-1. One of the signals, residing in the 230-235 Hz frequency band, was detected. The other signal, residing in the 890-895 Hz band, could not be distinguished from background noise. In addition, we searched for the quieter signal in its true parameters to determine the necessary coherence time for a detection. We find that the signal is, in principle, detectable using a coherence time that is 16 times longer than the original self-blind search and present a computational cost analysis for such a search.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Gravitational waves--Measurement; Laser interferometry; Neutron stars--Remote sensing; Scorpius (Constellation)

Publication Date

6-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Astrophysical Sciences and Technology (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Physics and Astronomy, School of

College

College of Science

Advisor

John T. Whelan

Advisor/Committee Member

Manuela Campanelli

Advisor/Committee Member

Richard O'Shaughnessy

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

ASTP-MS

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