Gravitational waves and γ-ray bursts

Christopher S. Kochanek*, Tsvi Piran

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

130 Scopus citations

Abstract

If the γ-ray burst sources detected by GRO are coalescing binaries at cosmological distances there should be a coincident gravitational radiation signal. Using the GRBs rate we predict the gravitational radiation detection rate as a function of the gravitational wave strain at Earth. This method of predicting the rate avoids the large statistical uncertainties in the current estimates that are based on the three neutron star binaries containing pulsars found, so far, in the Galaxy. The brightest γ-ray bursts should be accompanied by a gravitational pulse detectable by LIGO or VIRGO, and by using the bursts as triggers for LIGO/VIRGO their sensitivity can be improved by 50% and the detection rate increases by a factor of 3. LIGO/VIRGO must reach a strain sensitivity of 10-20.7h0 to detect one burst per decade, and a failure to find coincidences at a rate of one per year with a strain sensitivity of 10-21.6h0 will rule out the binary hypothesis. If they are detected as gravitational wave sources, the time delay between the γ-rays and the gravitational waves will help to determine the burst mechanism, and the polarization of the gravitational waves will help to determine the burst geometry.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)L17-L20
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume417
Issue number1 PART 2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Nov 1993

Keywords

  • Gamma rays: bursts
  • Gravitation
  • Stars: neutron

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