Search for transient gravitational wave signals associated with magnetar bursts during Advanced LIGOs second observing run


Abstract in English

We present the results of a search for short and intermediate-duration gravitational-wave signals from four magnetar bursts in Advanced LIGOs second observing run. We find no evidence of a signal and set upper bounds on the root sum squared of the total dimensionless strain ($h_{text{rss}}$) from incoming intermediate-duration gravitational waves ranging from $1.1 times 10^{-22}$ at 150 Hz to $4.4 times 10^{-22}$ at 1550 Hz at 50% detection efficiency. From the known distance to the magnetar SGR 1806-20 (8.7 kpc) we can place upper bounds on the isotropic gravitational wave energy of $3.4 times 10^{44} text{erg}$ at 150 Hz assuming optimal orientation. This represents an improvement of about a factor of 10 in strain sensitivity from the previous search for such signals, conducted during initial LIGOs sixth science run. The short duration search yielded upper limits of $2.1 times 10^{44} ,text{erg}$ for short white noise bursts, and $2.3times 10^{47},text{erg}$ for $100 , text{ms}$ long ringdowns at 1500 Hz, both at 50% detection efficiency.

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