Geometrical expression for the angular resolution of a network of gravitational-wave detectors

Linqing Wen and Yanbei Chen
Phys. Rev. D 81, 082001 – Published 8 April 2010

Abstract

We report for the first time general geometrical expressions for the angular resolution of an arbitrary network of interferometric gravitational-wave (GW) detectors when the arrival time of a GW is unknown. We show explicitly elements that decide the angular resolution of a GW detector network. In particular, we show the dependence of the angular resolution on areas formed by projections of pairs of detectors and how they are weighted by sensitivities of individual detectors. Numerical simulations are used to demonstrate the capabilities of the current GW detector network. We confirm that the angular resolution is poor along the plane formed by current LIGO-Virgo detectors. A factor of a few to more than ten fold improvement of the angular resolution can be achieved if the proposed new GW detectors LCGT or AIGO are added to the network. We also discuss the implications of our results for the design of a GW detector network, optimal localization methods for a given network, and electromagnetic follow-up observations.

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  • Received 3 April 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.81.082001

©2010 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Linqing Wen*

  • International Center for Radio Astronomy Research, School of Physics, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia

Yanbei Chen

  • Division of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy, Caltech, Pasadena, California 91125, USA

  • *lwen@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
  • yanbei@tapir.caltech.edu

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Vol. 81, Iss. 8 — 15 April 2010

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