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arXiv · 2104.00771

Modeling the Galactic Neutron Star Population for Use in Continuous Gravitational Wave Searches

Brendan T. Reed·Alex Deibel·C. J. Horowitz
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Abstract

Searches for continuous gravitational waves from \textit{unknown} Galactic neutron stars provide limits on the shapes of neutron stars. A rotating neutron star will produce gravitational waves if asymmetric deformations exist in its structure that are characterized by the star's ellipticity. In this study, we use a simple model of the spatial and spin distribution of Galactic neutron stars to estimate the total number of neutron stars probed, using gravitational waves, to a given upper limit on the ellipticity. This may help optimize future searches with improved sensitivity. The improved sensitivity of third-generation gravitational wave detectors may increase the number of neutron stars probed, to a given ellipticity, by factors of 100 to 1000.

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Brendan T. Reed, Alex Deibel, C. J. Horowitz. 2021-04-01. Modeling the Galactic Neutron Star Population for Use in Continuous Gravitational Wave Searches. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac1c04

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