IVth School of Astroparticle Physics
May 27th - June 1st, 2013
OHP, Saint Michel l'Observatoire

Gravitational Waves

Gravitational waves associated with known astrophysical events

Michal WAS
Albert-Einstein-Institut, Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik (AEI)

Course
In this lecture I introduce the generic reasons behind the improvement in GW sensitivity from external triggers, and how it is limited by EM phenomenology and observation capabilities. I show how astrophysical models of gamma-ray bursts and soft gamma repeaters guide the construction of EM triggered GW searches, and what data analysis techniques are enabled by the presence of an external trigger. I conclude with several examples of astrophysical statements that could be determined by EM triggered GW detection.

Chapters
  1. Why external triggers help finding GWs ?
    1. How astrophysical models of EM and GW emission define the search parameter space?
      1. Data analysis techniques that are enabled by external triggers
        1. Examples of potential astrophysical conclusions from EM triggered GW discoveries


        Abstract

        Many gravitational wave (GW) searches are performed as followups of electromagnetic (EM) observations of astrophysical events, such as gamma-ray bursts, soft gamma repeaters or pulsar glitches. The presence of an astrophysical trigger allows the detection of weaker GWs and a richer result interpretation compared to blind all-time all-sky GW searches.

        Bibliography
          • C. S. Kochanek and T. Piran. Gravitational waves and gamma-ray bursts. Astrophys. J. Lett., 417:L17, 1993.
          • B. P. Abbott et al. Implications for the origin of GRB 070201 from LIGO observations. Astrophys. J, 681:1419, 2008.
          • B. Abbott et al. Search for gravitational-wave bursts from soft gamma repeaters. Phys. Rev. Lett., 101:211102, 2008.
          • J. Abadie et al. Search for gravitational waves associated with gamma-ray bursts during LIGO science run 6 and Virgo science run 2 and 3. Astrophys. J., 760:12, 2012.

         

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