## [0705.3829] Matched Filtering of Numerical Relativity Templates of Spinning Binary Black Holes

Authors: Birjoo Vaishnav, Ian Hinder, Frank Herrmann, Deirdre Shoemaker

Date: 25 May 2007

Abstract: Tremendous progress has been made towards the solution of the binary-black-hole problem in numerical relativity. The waveforms produced by numerical relativity will play a role in gravitational wave detection as either test-beds for analytic template banks or as template banks themselves. As the parameter space explored by numerical relativity expands, the importance of quantifying the effect that each parameter has on first the detection of gravitational waves and then the parameter estimation of their sources increases. In light of this, we present a study of equal-mass, spinning binary-black-hole evolutions through matched filtering techniques commonly used in data analysis. We study how the match between two numerical waveforms varies with numerical resolution, initial angular momentum of the black holes and the inclination angle between the source and the detector. This study is limited by the fact that the spinning black-hole-binaries are oriented axially and the waveforms only contain approximately two and a half orbits before merger. We find that for detection purposes, spinning black holes require the inclusion of the higher harmonics in addition to the dominant mode, a condition that becomes more important as the black-hole-spins increase. In addition, we conduct a preliminary investigation of how well a template of fixed spin and inclination angle can detect target templates of arbitrary spin and inclination for the axial case considered here.

#### May 27, 2007

0705.3829 (/preprints)
2007-05-27, 20:08 

## [0705.2756] Black Hole Motion as Catalyst of Orbital Resonances

Authors: C.M. Boily, T. Padmanabhan, A. Paiement

Date: 18 May 2007

Abstract: The motion of a black hole about the centre of gravity of its host galaxy induces a strong response from the surrounding stellar population. We treat the case of a harmonic potential analytically and show that half of the stars on circular orbits in that potential shift to an orbit of lower energy, while the other half receive a positive boost and recede to a larger radius. The black hole itself remains on an orbit of fixed amplitude and merely acts as a catalyst for the evolution of the stellar energy distribution function f(E). We show that this effect is operative out to a radius of approx 3 to 4 times the hole's influence radius, R_bh. We use numerical integration to explore more fully the response of a stellar distribution to black hole motion. We consider orbits in a logarithmic potential and compare the response of stars on circular orbits, to the situation of a ‘warm’ and ‘hot’ (isotropic) stellar velocity field. While features seen in density maps are now wiped out, the kinematic signature of black hole motion still imprints the stellar line-of-sight mean velocity to a magnitude ~18% the local root mean-square velocity dispersion sigma.

#### May 22, 2007

0705.2756 (/preprints)
2007-05-22, 17:55 

## [0705.3109] Black Hole and Neutron Star Binaries: Theoretical Challenges

Authors: Thibault Damour

Date: 22 May 2007

Abstract: Some of the theoretical challenges posed by the general relativistic description of binary systems of compact objects (neutron stars or black holes) are reviewed. We recall the various ways one can use the theory of the motion, and of the timing, of binary pulsars to test the strong-field and/or radiative aspects of General Relativity. Recent advances in the theory of the motion and radiation of binary black holes are discussed. One emphasizes the usefulness of the Effective One Body approach in providing a quasi-analytical description of the waveform emitted by coalescing binary black holes.

#### May 22, 2007

0705.3109 (/preprints)
2007-05-22, 17:54 

## [0705.2851] Effective Search Templates for a Primordial Stochastic Gravitational Wave Background

Authors: Takeshi Chiba, Yoshiaki Himemoto, Masahide Yamaguchi, Jun&#x27;ichi Yokoyama

Date: 21 May 2007

Abstract: We calculate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the stochastic gravitational wave background with its amplitude close to the detection threshold in an extreme case its spectrum has a sharp fall off which mimics the imprint of the change of the number of relativistic degrees of freedom on the stochastic background generated during inflation in the early universe. While it is true that SNR is maximal in the case we use the correct template proportional to the assumed spectrum, it is fairly insensitive to the shape of the template we use, indicating that a simple power-law template is sufficient to detect the signature.

#### May 21, 2007

0705.2851 (/preprints)
2007-05-21, 18:03 

## [0705.1826] Dynamical non-axisymmetric instabilities in rotating relativistic stars

Authors: G. M. Manca, L. Baiotti, R. De Pietri, L. Rezzolla

Date: 13 May 2007

Abstract: We present new results on dynamical instabilities in rapidly rotating neutron-stars. In particular, using numerical simulations in full General Relativity, we analyse the effects that the stellar compactness has on the threshold for the onset of the dynamical bar-mode instability, as well as on the appearance of other dynamical instabilities. By using an extrapolation technique developed and tested in our previous study [1], we explicitly determine the threshold for a wide range of compactnesses using four sequences of models of constant baryonic mass comprising a total of 59 stellar models. Our calculation of the threshold is in good agreement with the Newtonian prediction and improves the previous post-Newtonian estimates. In addition, we find that for stars with sufficiently large mass and compactness, the m=3 deformation is the fastest growing one. For all of the models considered, the non-axisymmetric instability is suppressed on a dynamical timescale with an m=1 deformation dominating the final stages of the instability. These results, together with those presented in [1], suggest that an m=1 deformation represents a general and late-time feature of non-axisymmetric dynamical instabilities both in full General Relativity and in Newtonian gravity.

#### May 21, 2007

0705.1826 (/preprints)
2007-05-21, 10:11 

## [0705.2519] Faithful Effective-One-Body waveforms of small-mass-ratio coalescing black-hole binaries

Authors: Thibault Damour, Alessandro Nagar

Date: 17 May 2007

Abstract: We address the problem of constructing high-accuracy, faithful analytic waveforms describing the gravitational wave signal emitted by inspiralling and coalescing binary black holes. We work within the Effective-One-Body (EOB) framework and propose a methodology for improving the current (waveform)implementations of this framework based on understanding, element by element, the physics behind each feature of the waveform, and on systematically comparing various EOB-based waveforms with ‘exact’ waveforms obtained by numerical relativity approaches. The present paper focuses on small-mass-ratio non-spinning binary systems, which can be conveniently studied by Regge-Wheeler-Zerilli-type methods. Our results include: (i) a resummed, 3PN-accurate description of the inspiral waveform, (ii) a better description of radiation reaction during the plunge, (iii) a refined analytic expression for the plunge waveform, (iv) an improved treatment of the matching between the plunge and ring-down waveforms. This improved implementation of the EOB approach allows us to construct complete analytic waveforms which exhibit a remarkable agreement with the ‘exact’ ones in modulus, frequency and phase. In particular, the analytic and numerical waveforms stay in phase, during the whole process, within $\pm 1.1 %$ of a cycle. We expect that the extension of our methodology to the comparable-mass case will be able to generate comparably accurate analytic waveforms of direct use for the ground-based network of interferometric detectors of gravitational waves.

#### May 21, 2007

0705.2519 (/preprints)
2007-05-21, 10:10 

## [0705.2222] Loop Quantum Gravity: Four Recent Advances and a Dozen Frequently Asked Questions

Authors: Abhay Ashtekar

Date: 15 May 2007

Abstract: As per organizers' request, my talk at the 11th Marcel Grossmann Conference consisted of two parts. In the first, I illustrated recent advances in loop quantum gravity through examples. In the second, I presented an overall assessment of the status of the program by addressing some frequently asked questions. This account is addressed primarily to researchers outside the loop quantum gravity community.

#### May 21, 2007

0705.2222 (/preprints)
2007-05-21, 10:09 

## [0705.1572] Searching for Gravitational Waves from Binary Inspirals with LIGO

Authors: Duncan A. Brown, Stanislav Babak, Patrick R. Brady, Nelson Christensen, Thomas Cokelaer, Jolien D. E. Creighton, Stephen Fairhurst, Gabriela Gonzalez, Eirini Messaritaki, B. S. Sathyaprakash, Peter Shawhan, Natalia Zotov

Date: 11 May 2007

Abstract: We describe the current status of the search for gravitational waves from inspiralling compact binary systems in LIGO data. We review the result from the first scientific run of LIGO (S1). We present the goals of the search of data taken in the second scientific run (S2) and describe the differences between the methods used in S1 and S2.

#### May 21, 2007

0705.1572 (/preprints)
2007-05-21, 10:08 

## [0705.1514] Searching for Gravitational Radiation from Binary Black Hole MACHOs in the Galactic Halo

Authors: Duncan A. Brown

Date: 10 May 2007

Abstract: The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) is one of a new generation of detectors of gravitational radiation. The existence of gravitational radiation was first predicted by Einstein in 1916, however gravitational waves have not yet been directly observed. One source of gravitation radiation is binary inspiral. Two compact bodies orbiting each other, such as a pair of black holes, lose energy to gravitational radiation. As the system loses energy the bodies spiral towards each other. This causes their orbital speed and the amount of gravitational radiation to increase, producing a characteristic ‘chirp’ waveform in the LIGO sensitive band. In this thesis, matched filtering of LIGO science data is used to search for low mass binary systems in the halo of dark matter surrounding the Milky Way. Observations of gravitational microlensing events of stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud suggest that some fraction of the dark matter in the halo may be in the form of Massive Astrophysical Compact Halo Objects (MACHOs). It has been proposed that low mass black holes formed in the early universe may be a component of the MACHO population; some fraction of these black hole MACHOs will be in binary systems and detectable by LIGO. The inspiral from a MACHO binary composed of two 0.5 solar mass black holes enters the LIGO sensitive band around 40 Hz. The chirp signal increases in amplitude and frequency, sweeping through the sensitive band to 4400 Hz in 140 seconds. By using evidence from microlensing events and theoretical predictions of the population an upper limit is placed on the rate of black hole MACHO inspirals in the galactic halo.

#### May 21, 2007

0705.1514 (/preprints)
2007-05-21, 10:07 

## [0705.1060] Obtaining the spacetime metric from cosmological observations

Authors: Teresa Hui-Ching Lu, Charles Hellaby

Date: 8 May 2007

Abstract: Recent galaxy redshift surveys have brought in a large amount of accurate cosmological data out to redshift 0.3, and future surveys are expected to achieve a high degree of completeness out to a redshift exceeding 1. Consequently, a numerical programme for determining the metric of the universe from observational data will soon become practical; and thereby realise the ultimate application of Einstein's equations. Apart from detailing the cosmic geometry, this would allow us to verify and quantify homogeneity, rather than assuming it, as has been necessary up to now, and to do that on a metric level, and not merely at the mass distribution level. This paper is the beginning of a project aimed at such a numerical implementation. The primary observational data from our past light cone consists of galaxy redshifts, apparent luminosities, angular diameters and number densities, together with source evolution functions, absolute luminosities, true diameters and masses of sources. Here we start with the simplest case, that of spherical symmetry and a dust equation of state, and execute an algorithm that determines the unknown metric functions from this data. We discuss the challenges of turning the theoretical algorithm into a workable numerical procedure, particularly addressing the origin and the maximum in the area distance. Our numerical method is tested with several artificial data sets for homogeneous and inhomogeneous models, successfully reproducing the original models. This demonstrates the basic viability of such a scheme. Although current surveys don't have sufficient completeness or accuracy, we expect this situation to change in the near future, and in the meantime there are many refinements and generalisations to be added.

#### May 21, 2007

0705.1060 (/preprints)
2007-05-21, 10:05 

## [0705.0774] Stability of Polytropes

Authors: Christian Fronsdal

Date: 6 May 2007

Abstract: This paper is an investigation of the stability of some ideal stars. It is in- tended as a study in General Relativity, with emphasis on the coupling to matter, eventually aimed at a better understanding of very strong gravitational fields and Black Holes. The work is based on an action principle for the complete system of metric and matter fields. We propose a complete revision of the treatment of boundary conditions. An ideal star in our terminology has spherical symmetry and an isentropic equation of state. In our first work on this subject it was assumed that the density vanishes beyond a finite distance from the origin. But it is difficult to decide what the proper boundary conditions should be and we are consequently skeptical of the concept of a fixed boundary. In this paper we investigate the double polytrope, characterized by a polytropic index n less than 5 in the bulk of the star and a value larger than 5 in an outer atmosphere that extends to infinity. It has no fixed boundary but a region of critical density where the polytropic index changes from a value that is appropriate for the bulk of the star to a value that provides a crude model for the atmosphere. The existence of a relation between mass and radius is confirmed, as well as an upper limit on the mass. The principal conclusion is that all the static configurations are stable.

#### May 21, 2007

0705.0774 (/preprints)
2007-05-21, 10:04 

## [hep-ph/0607158] Gravitational Waves from Warped Spacetime

Authors: Lisa Randall, Geraldine Servant

Date: 14 Jul 2006

Abstract: We argue that the RSI model can provide a strong signature in gravitational waves. This signal is a relic stochastic background generated during the cosmological phase transition from an AdS-Schwarschild phase to the RS1 geometry that should occur at a temperature in the TeV range. We estimate the amplitude of the signal in terms of the parameters of the potential stabilizing the radion and show that over much of the parameter region in which the phase transition completes, a signal should be detectable at the planned space interferometer, LISA.

#### May 21, 2007

0607158 (/preprints/hep-ph)
2007-05-21, 10:04 

## [0705.0688] Results of the IGEC-2 search for gravitational wave bursts during 2005

Authors: IGEC-2 Collaboration

Date: 4 May 2007

Abstract: The network of resonant bar detectors of gravitational waves resumed coordinated observations within the International Gravitational Event Collaboration (IGEC-2). Four detectors are taking part in this collaboration: ALLEGRO, AURIGA, EXPLORER and NAUTILUS. We present here the results of the search for gravitational wave bursts over 6 months during 2005, when IGEC-2 was the only gravitational wave observatory in operation. The network data analysis implemented is based on a time coincidence search among AURIGA, EXPLORER and NAUTILUS, keeping the data from ALLEGRO for follow-up studies. With respect to the previous IGEC 1997-2000 observations, the amplitude sensitivity of the detectors to bursts improved by a factor about 3 and the sensitivity bandwidths are wider, so that the data analysis was tuned considering a larger class of detectable waveforms. Thanks to the higher duty cycles of the single detectors, we decided to focus the analysis on three-fold observation, so to ensure the identification of any single candidate of gravitational waves (gw) with high statistical confidence. The achieved false detection rate is as low as 1 per century. No candidates were found.

#### May 21, 2007

0705.0688 (/preprints)
2007-05-21, 10:03 

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