Observational limit on gravitational waves from binary neutron stars in the galaxy

  • B. Allen
  • , J. K. Blackburn
  • , P. R. Brady
  • , J. D.E. Creighton
  • , T. Creighton
  • , S. Droz
  • , A. D. Gillespie
  • , S. A. Hughes
  • , S. Kawamura
  • , T. T. Lyons
  • , J. E. Mason
  • , B. J. Owen
  • , F. J. Raab
  • , M. W. Regehr
  • , B. S. Sathyaprakash
  • , R. L. Savege
  • , S. Whitcomb
  • , A. G. Wiseman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Using optimal matched filtering, we search 25 hours of data from the LIGO 40-m prototype laser interferometric gravitational-wave detector for gravitational-wave chirps emitted by coalescing binary systems within our Galaxy. This is the first test of this filtering technique on real interferometric data. An upper limit on the rate R of neutron star binary inspirals in our Galaxy is obtained: with 90% confidence, R < 0.5 h-1. Similar experiments with LIGO interferometers will provide constraints on the population of tight binary neutron star systems in the Universe.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1498-1501
Number of pages4
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume83
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1999

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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