Postprocessing methods used in the search for continuous gravitational-wave signals from the Galactic Center

Abstract

The search for continuous gravitational-wave signals requires the development of techniques that can effectively explore the low-significance regions of the candidate set. In this paper we present the methods that were developed for a search for continuous gravitational-wave signals from the Galactic Center [1]. First, we present a data-selection method that increases the sensitivity of the chosen data set by 20%--30% compared to the selection methods used in previous directed searches. Second, we introduce postprocessing methods that reliably rule out candidates that stem from random fluctuations or disturbances in the data. In the context of [J. Aasi et al., Phys. Rev. D 88, 102002 (2013)] their use enabled the investigation of marginal candidates (three standard deviations below the loudest expected candidate in Gaussian noise from the entire search). Such low-significance regions had not been explored in continuous gravitational-wave searches before. We finally present a new procedure for deriving upper limits on the gravitational-wave amplitude, which is several times faster with respect to the standard injection-and-search approach commonly used.