Abstract

The lattice covering problem can be applied to the placement of templates in a search for continuous gravitational waves from the low-mass X-Ray binary Scorpius X-1. Efficient placement of templates to cover the parameter space at a given maximum mismatch is an application of the sphere covering problem, for which an implementation is available in the LatticeTiling software library. In the case of Sco X-1, potential correlations, in both the prior uncertainty and the mismatch metric, between the orbital period and orbital phase, lead to complications in the efficient construction of the lattice. We define a shearing coordinate transformation which simultaneously minimizes both of these sources of correlation, and allows us to take advantage of the small prior orbital period uncertainty. The resulting lattices have a factor of about 3 fewer templates than the corresponding parameter space grids constructed by the prior straightforward method, allowing a more sensitive search at the same computing cost and maximum mismatch.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Gravitational waves--Detection; Lattice theory; Scorpius (Constellation)

Publication Date

7-22-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Astrophysical Sciences and Technology (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

School of Physics and Astronomy (COS)

Advisor

John T Whelan

Advisor/Committee Member

Richard O'Shaughnessy

Advisor/Committee Member

Michael Lam

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

ASTP-MS

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