Upper limits on a stochastic gravitational wave background using LIGO and Virgo interferometers at 600-1000 Hz

Document #:

LIGO-P1000128-v26

Document type:

P - Publications

Abstract:

A stochastic background of gravitational waves is expected to arise from a superposition of many incoherent
sources of gravitational waves, of either cosmological or astrophysical origin.
This background is a target for the current generation of ground-based
detectors. In this article we present the first joint search for a stochastic
background using data from the LIGO and Virgo interferometers.
In a frequency band of 600-1000 Hz, we obtained a \( 95\% \) upper limit on the
amplitude of
\( \Omega_{\rm GW}(f) = \Omega_3 \left( f/900 \mathrm{Hz}\right)^3 \), of
\( \Omega_3 0.33 \),
assuming a value of the Hubble parameter of
\( h_{100}=0.72 \). These new limits are a factor of
seven better than the previous best in this frequency band.

Files in Document:

• S5ligovirgo.pdf (497.8 kB)

Other Files:

• Figure 1: Overlap reduction functions (figure1.dat, 34.0 kB)
• Figure 2: Posterior PDFs on Omega_3 (figure2.dat, 420.4 kB)
• Figure 3: Sensitivity integrands (figure3.dat, 39.3 kB)
• Figure 4: Upper limits on Omega_alpha with respect to alpha (figure4.dat, 427 bytes)
• Figure 5: Software injections. Probability intervals on the estimated values of Omega_3 (figure5.dat, 440 bytes)
• Figure 6: Average ASD of H1 over S5. (figure6a.dat, 75.1 kB)
• Figure 6: Average ASD of V1 over VSR1. (figure6b.dat, 78.3 kB)
• Figure 6: Strain sensitivities of searches. (figure6c.dat, 103.7 kB)

Topics:

• Stochastic

Author Groups:

• LVC

Notes and Changes:

Extra edits to a) update author list and b) fix some typos found after the paper was accepted

Publication Information:

http://arxiv.org/abs/1112.5004
Paper synopsis for teachers/students/public: http://www.ligo.org/science/Publication-S5VSR1StochIso/