Sensitivity curves for searches for gravitational-wave backgrounds

Eric Thrane and Joseph D. Romano
Phys. Rev. D 88, 124032 – Published 12 December 2013

Abstract

We propose a graphical representation of detector sensitivity curves for stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds that takes into account the increase in sensitivity that comes from integrating over frequency in addition to integrating over time. This method is valid for backgrounds that have a power-law spectrum in the analysis band. We call these graphs “power-law integrated curves.” For simplicity, we consider cross-correlation searches for unpolarized and isotropic stochastic backgrounds using two or more detectors. We apply our method to construct power-law integrated sensitivity curves for second-generation ground-based detectors such as Advanced LIGO, space-based detectors such as LISA and the Big Bang Observer, and timing residuals from a pulsar timing array. The code used to produce these plots is available at https://dcc.ligo.org/LIGO-P1300115/public for researchers interested in constructing similar sensitivity curves.

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  • Received 19 October 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.88.124032

© 2013 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Eric Thrane1,* and Joseph D. Romano2,†

  • 1LIGO Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, MS 100-36, Pasadena, California 91125, USA
  • 2Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Gravitational-Wave Astronomy, University of Texas at Brownsville, Brownsville, Texas 78520, USA

  • *ethrane@ligo.caltech.edu
  • joseph.romano@ligo.org

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Vol. 88, Iss. 12 — 15 December 2013

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