Dynamic normalization for compact binary coalescence searches in non-stationary noise. (9th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mozzon, S; Nuttall, L K; Lundgren, A; Dent, T; Kumar, S; Nitz, A H
• Is Part Of: Classical and quantum gravity. Volume 37:Number 21(2020:Nov.)
• Publication Date: 2020-10-09
• Subjects: gravitational waves -- interferometric noise -- matched-filter search -- non-stationarity; Quantum gravity -- Periodicals; Gravitation -- Periodicals; Relativity (Physics) -- Periodicals; Space and time -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 521.1
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6382/abac6c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-9381

Abstract

Abstract: The output of gravitational-wave interferometers, such as LIGO and Virgo, can be highly non-stationary. Broadband detector noise can affect the detector sensitivity on the order of tens of seconds. Gravitational-wave transient searches, such as those for colliding black holes, estimate this noise in order to identify gravitational-wave events. During times of non-stationarity we see a higher rate of false events being reported. To accurately separate signal from noise, it is imperative to incorporate the changing detector state into gravitational-wave searches. We develop a new statistic which estimates the variation of the interferometric detector noise. We use this statistic to re-rank candidate events identified during LIGO–Virgo's second observing run by the PyCBC search pipeline. This results in a 5% improvement in the sensitivity volume for low mass binaries, particularly binary neutron stars mergers.