Searching for gravitational waves from pulsars
Lead Research Organisation:
Lancaster University
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
This work aims to measure the size of the deformations (or mountains) on the extremely dense and rapidly rotating stellar remnants known as neutron stars. To do this I will search for gravitational-waves signals from a selection of Galactic neutron stars, observed as pulsars through their beamed radio emission, using data from the LIGO and Virgo gravitational-wave detectors. The gravitational waves are caused by the neutron star mountain distorting space-time the star whizzes around, with these distortions rippling their way across space to the Earth. The strength of the gravitational-wave signal, along with the distance to the pulsar and its rotation rate, will allow us to measure the size of the mountains. This in turn can tell us about the material from which the neutron star is made and the strength of the extreme magnetic field within it, which are properties that are unattainable in Earth-based laboratories.
Planned Impact
Information already provided.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Matthew Pitkin (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Abbott B
(2020)
GW190425: Observation of a Compact Binary Coalescence with Total Mass ~ 3.4 M ?
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Abbott B
(2021)
A Gravitational-wave Measurement of the Hubble Constant Following the Second Observing Run of Advanced LIGO and Virgo
in The Astrophysical Journal
Abbott R
(2021)
Population Properties of Compact Objects from the Second LIGO-Virgo Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Abbott R
(2020)
Gravitational-wave Constraints on the Equatorial Ellipticity of Millisecond Pulsars
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Abbott R
(2021)
Tests of general relativity with binary black holes from the second LIGO-Virgo gravitational-wave transient catalog
in Physical Review D
Abbott R
(2021)
Search for Gravitational Waves Associated with Gamma-Ray Bursts Detected by Fermi and Swift during the LIGO-Virgo Run O3a
in The Astrophysical Journal
Abbott R
(2021)
Observation of Gravitational Waves from Two Neutron Star-Black Hole Coalescences
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Abbott R
(2021)
GWTC-2: Compact Binary Coalescences Observed by LIGO and Virgo during the First Half of the Third Observing Run
in Physical Review X
Abbott R
(2021)
All-sky search in early O3 LIGO data for continuous gravitational-wave signals from unknown neutron stars in binary systems
in Physical Review D
Abbott R
(2021)
Constraints on Cosmic Strings Using Data from the Third Advanced LIGO-Virgo Observing Run.
in Physical review letters
Description | Member of the UK SKA Science Committee |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
URL | https://stfc.ukri.org/research/astronomy-and-space-science/ukskasc/ska-contacts/ |
Description | Science summary website for collaboration results |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Matthew Pitkin contributed to a website containing a broadly accessible description of the results of his work as part of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration. Twitter publicising of this page via the @ligo account resulted in hundreds of likes. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.ligo.org/science/Publication-O3aMSPs/index.php |
Description | Undergraduate astronomy society talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | A talk (presented over Zoom) to the University of Glasgow undergraduate astronomy society. It was attended by about 35 students, produced many questions afterwards and got very appreciative feedback from the AstroSoc organisers. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.facebook.com/guastrosoc/posts/4169276106439749 |