Work

In Search of the Gravitational Wave of Fast X-Ray Transient in the Second Part of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Fourth Observing Run

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Fast X-ray Transients (FXTs) are brief, intense X-ray flashes unassociated with persistent X-ray sources or known stellar objects, typically lasting from seconds to hours. With the launch of the Einstein Probe in 2024 January, the study of FXTs has entered a new phase. Its large field of view significantly increases the discovery rate, enabling more robust statistics. The leading discoveries have revealed a fraction of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), while the rest remain unexplained. We propose a methodology to search for possible relations between gravitational waves (GWs) and FXTs, as it may serve as a discrepancy among proposed theoretical models. To achieve this, we intend to utilize X-Pipeline, an unmodeled search algorithm, to identify excess coherent signals in LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) O4b observations. Out of 64 FXTs events, we obtained 19 FXTs for constructing robust searches. Given the absence of any detectable GW signals, we subsequently calculated upper limits and estimated exclusion distances for each source. In order to enrich the sample base and statistical analysis, this methodology could henceforth be conducted through future GW searches, including KAGRA in the O4c and O5 observations.

Source: Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

DOI: 10.1088/1538-3873/aeb071

Authors: Po-Ya Wang, Albert K. H. Kong, Surojit Saha

Institution: National Tsing Hua University

Language: English

Topic: Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,325

Funders: National Science and Technology Council, National Science Foundation