Semi-coherent searches for continuous gravitational waves, and the N^1/4 law

Document #:

LIGO-T2100266-v2

Document type:

T - Technical notes

Abstract:

We revisit the relationship between sensitivity and the number of coherent segments in a semi-coherent search for continuous gravitational wave signals. Using the simplest model, we give a short tutorial on how to set the sensitivity level for such a search, how the sensitivity is degraded as the number of coherent segments (\( N \)) increases and how to compute this factor using standard SciPy functions. Finally we show the origins of the well-known \( N^{1/4} \) law from both a frequentist and Bayesian perspective.

Files in Document:

• semicoherent_sensitivity.pdf (99.4 kB)

Topics:

• Continuous Wave

Authors:

• Graham Woan

Keywords:

continuous-wave CW semi-coherent