Abstract
Using optimal matched filtering, we search 25 hours of data from the LIGO 40-m prototype laser interferometric gravitational-wave detector for gravitational-wave chirps emitted by coalescing binary systems within our Galaxy. This is the first test of this filtering technique on real interferometric data. An upper limit on the rate of neutron star binary inspirals in our Galaxy is obtained: with confidence, . Similar experiments with LIGO interferometers will provide constraints on the population of tight binary neutron star systems in the Universe.
- Received 31 March 1999
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.1498
©1999 American Physical Society