First joint analysis between Gravitational Waves and High Energy Neutrinos using LIGO, Virgo and ANTARES data

Abstract

Multi-messenger astronomy is entering an exciting period with the recent development of experimental techniques that have opened new windows of observation of the cosmic radiation in all its components. Cataclysmic cosmic events can be plausible sources of both Gravitational Waves (GWs) and High Energy Neutrinos (HENs). Such messengers could reveal new, hidden sources that are not observed by conventional astronomy. Requiring consistency between GW and HEN detection channels enables new searches and a detection would yield significant additional information about the common source. A neutrino telescope such as ANTARES can determine the time and direction of high energy neutrino events. A network of gravitational wave detectors such as LIGO and Virgo can also provide timing/directional information for gravitational wave bursts. By combining the information from these totally independent detectors, one can search for cosmic events that may arrive from common astrophysical sources. In this proceeding are presented the fundamentals of the first joint analysis between GW and HENs during the fifth LIGO science run and first Virgo science run and the 5 line configuration of ANTARES.