Search for continuous gravitational waves from 20 accreting millisecond x-ray pulsars in O3 LIGO data

(LIGO Scientific Collaboration, Virgo Collaboration, and KAGRA Collaboration)

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48 Scopus citations

Abstract

Results are presented of searches for continuous gravitational waves from 20 accreting millisecond x-ray pulsars with accurately measured spin frequencies and orbital parameters, using data from the third observing run of the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The search algorithm uses a hidden Markov model, where the transition probabilities allow the frequency to wander according to an unbiased random walk, while the J-statistic maximum-likelihood matched filter tracks the binary orbital phase. Three narrow subbands are searched for each target, centered on harmonics of the measured spin frequency. The search yields 16 candidates, consistent with a false alarm probability of 30% per subband and target searched. These candidates, along with one candidate from an additional target-of-opportunity search done for SAX J1808.4-3658, which was in outburst during one month of the observing run, cannot be confidently associated with a known noise source. Additional follow-up does not provide convincing evidence that any are a true astrophysical signal. When all candidates are assumed nonastrophysical, upper limits are set on the maximum wave strain detectable at 95% confidence, h095%. The strictest constraint is h095%=4.7×10-26 from IGR J17062-6143. Constraints on the detectable wave strain from each target lead to constraints on neutron star ellipticity and r-mode amplitude, the strictest of which are ϵ95%=3.1×10-7 and α95%=1.8×10-5 respectively. This analysis is the most comprehensive and sensitive search of continuous gravitational waves from accreting millisecond x-ray pulsars to date.

Original languageEnglish
Article number022002
JournalPhysical Review D
Volume105
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Jan 2022
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Australian Research Council
ICTP South American Institute for Fundamental Research
National Research Foundation of Korea
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Narodowe Centrum Nauki
Scottish Universities Physics Alliance
National Science Foundation
Conselleria d’Innovació, Universitats, Ciència i Societat Digital de la Generalitat Valenciana
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Scottish Funding Council
Actions de Recherche Concertées
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan
French Lyon Institute of Origins
Leverhulme Trust
Science and Engineering Research Board
Generalitat de Catalunya
Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Kavli Foundation
Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal
KISTI-GSDC
European Commission
Russian Foundation for Basic Research
U.S. Department of Energy
Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovations
Goddard Space Flight Center
Agencia Estatal de Investigación
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee
Russian Science Foundation
Advanced Technology Center
Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej
Hungarian Scientific Research Fund
Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS
Royal Society
Universitat de les Illes Balears
European Regional Development Fund
Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek—Vlaanderen
University of Tokyo
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science18K03630, 17H06133, JP17H06361, JP17H06364, 26000005, JP17H06358, 18H01224
Fundação para a Ciência e a TecnologiaIncentivo/SAU/LA0001/2013
Academia SinicaAS-CDA-105-M06

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