Limits on anisotropy in the nanohertz stochastic gravitational-wave background

EPTA collaboration

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.041101

Limits on anisotropy in the nanohertz stochastic gravitational-wave background

EPTA collaboration

Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)

109 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The paucity of observed supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs) may imply that the gravitational wave background (GWB) from this population is anisotropic, rendering existing analyses sub-optimal. We present the first constraints on the angular distribution of a nanohertz stochastic GWB from circular, inspiral-driven SMBHBs using the 2015 European Pulsar Timing Array data [Desvignes et al. (in prep.)]. Our analysis of the GWB in the ∼ 2-90 nHz band shows consistency with isotropy, with the strain amplitude in l > 0 spherical harmonic multipoles ≤40% of the monopole value. We expect that these more general techniques will become standard tools to probe the angular distribution of source populations.

Original language	English
Article number	041101
Journal	Physical Review Letters
Volume	115
Early online date	29 Jun 2015
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.041101
Publication status	Published - 22 Jul 2015

Bibliographical note

6 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters

Keywords

astro-ph.HE
astro-ph.CO
gr-qc

Access to Document

10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.041101

Taylor_et_al_Limits_Anisotropy_Physical_Review_Letters_2015
© 2015 American Physical Society Published version available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.041101 Checked Jan 2016
Final published version, 443 KBLicence: None: All rights reserved

Birmingham Astrophysics : Consolidated Grant 2013-2016
Vecchio, A., Ponman, T., Freise, A., Smith, G., Speake, C., Mandel, I., Cruise, M., Raychaudhury, S. & Stevens, I.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL
1/04/13 → 30/09/16
Project: Research Councils
UK Involvement in the Operations of Advanced LIGO
Vecchio, A. & Freise, A.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL
1/08/11 → 31/12/15
Project: Research Councils
Bridging Advanced LIGO to Desiign Performance and Further Sensitivity Enhancements
Vecchio, A. & Freise, A.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL
1/07/11 → 30/06/13
Project: Research Councils
UK Involvement in the Advanced LIGO Gravitational Wave Project
Vecchio, A., Castelli, C. & Cruise, M.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL
1/06/03 → 31/03/11
Project: Research Councils

Cite this

@article{2017211c7edc41b1889ccb44d2d513a7,

title = "Limits on anisotropy in the nanohertz stochastic gravitational-wave background",

abstract = "The paucity of observed supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs) may imply that the gravitational wave background (GWB) from this population is anisotropic, rendering existing analyses sub-optimal. We present the first constraints on the angular distribution of a nanohertz stochastic GWB from circular, inspiral-driven SMBHBs using the 2015 European Pulsar Timing Array data [Desvignes et al. (in prep.)]. Our analysis of the GWB in the ∼ 2-90 nHz band shows consistency with isotropy, with the strain amplitude in l > 0 spherical harmonic multipoles ≤40% of the monopole value. We expect that these more general techniques will become standard tools to probe the angular distribution of source populations.",

keywords = "astro-ph.HE, astro-ph.CO, gr-qc",

author = "{EPTA collaboration} and Taylor, {S. R.} and Mingarelli, {C. M. F.} and Gair, {J. R.} and A. Sesana and G. Theureau and S. Babak and Bassa, {C. G.} and P. Brem and M. Burgay and Caballero, {R. N.} and Champion, {D. J.} and I. Cognard and G. Desvignes and L. Guillemot and Hessels, {J. W. T.} and Janssen, {G. H.} and R. Karuppusamy and M. Kramer and A. Lassus and P. Lazarus and L. Lentati and K. Liu and S. Os{\l}owski and D. Perrodin and A. Petiteau and A. Possenti and Purver, {M. B.} and Rosado, {P. A.} and Sanidas, {S. A.} and R. Smits and B. Stappers and C. Tiburzi and Haasteren, {R. van} and A. Vecchio and Verbiest, {J. P. W.}",

note = "6 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters",

year = "2015",

month = jul,

day = "22",

doi = "10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.041101",

language = "English",

volume = "115",

journal = "Physical Review Letters",

issn = "0031-9007",

publisher = "American Physical Society (APS)",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Limits on anisotropy in the nanohertz stochastic gravitational-wave background

AU - EPTA collaboration

AU - Taylor, S. R.

AU - Mingarelli, C. M. F.

AU - Gair, J. R.

AU - Sesana, A.

AU - Theureau, G.

AU - Babak, S.

AU - Bassa, C. G.

AU - Brem, P.

AU - Burgay, M.

AU - Caballero, R. N.

AU - Champion, D. J.

AU - Cognard, I.

AU - Desvignes, G.

AU - Guillemot, L.

AU - Hessels, J. W. T.

AU - Janssen, G. H.

AU - Karuppusamy, R.

AU - Kramer, M.

AU - Lassus, A.

AU - Lazarus, P.

AU - Lentati, L.

AU - Liu, K.

AU - Osłowski, S.

AU - Perrodin, D.

AU - Petiteau, A.

AU - Possenti, A.

AU - Purver, M. B.

AU - Rosado, P. A.

AU - Sanidas, S. A.

AU - Smits, R.

AU - Stappers, B.

AU - Tiburzi, C.

AU - Haasteren, R. van

AU - Vecchio, A.

AU - Verbiest, J. P. W.

N1 - 6 pages, 2 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters

PY - 2015/7/22

Y1 - 2015/7/22

N2 - The paucity of observed supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs) may imply that the gravitational wave background (GWB) from this population is anisotropic, rendering existing analyses sub-optimal. We present the first constraints on the angular distribution of a nanohertz stochastic GWB from circular, inspiral-driven SMBHBs using the 2015 European Pulsar Timing Array data [Desvignes et al. (in prep.)]. Our analysis of the GWB in the ∼ 2-90 nHz band shows consistency with isotropy, with the strain amplitude in l > 0 spherical harmonic multipoles ≤40% of the monopole value. We expect that these more general techniques will become standard tools to probe the angular distribution of source populations.

AB - The paucity of observed supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs) may imply that the gravitational wave background (GWB) from this population is anisotropic, rendering existing analyses sub-optimal. We present the first constraints on the angular distribution of a nanohertz stochastic GWB from circular, inspiral-driven SMBHBs using the 2015 European Pulsar Timing Array data [Desvignes et al. (in prep.)]. Our analysis of the GWB in the ∼ 2-90 nHz band shows consistency with isotropy, with the strain amplitude in l > 0 spherical harmonic multipoles ≤40% of the monopole value. We expect that these more general techniques will become standard tools to probe the angular distribution of source populations.

KW - astro-ph.HE

KW - astro-ph.CO

KW - gr-qc

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.041101

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.041101

M3 - Article

SN - 0031-9007

VL - 115

JO - Physical Review Letters

JF - Physical Review Letters

M1 - 041101

ER -

Limits on anisotropy in the nanohertz stochastic gravitational-wave background

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

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Projects

Birmingham Astrophysics : Consolidated Grant 2013-2016

UK Involvement in the Operations of Advanced LIGO

Bridging Advanced LIGO to Desiign Performance and Further Sensitivity Enhancements

UK Involvement in the Advanced LIGO Gravitational Wave Project

Cite this