Search for Gravitational Wave Bursts from Six Magnetars

J. Abadie, H.J. Bulten, D.S. Rabeling, J.F.J. van den Brand, M.G. Beker, M.R. Blom, T.G.F. Li, S. van der Putten

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Soft gamma repeaters (SGRs) and anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) are thought to be magnetars: neutron stars powered by extreme magnetic fields. These rare objects are characterized by repeated and sometimes spectacular gamma-ray bursts. The burst mechanism might involve crustal fractures and excitation of non-radial modes which would emit gravitational waves (GWs). We present the results of a search for GW bursts from six galactic magnetars that is sensitive to neutron star f-modes, thought to be the most efficient GW emitting oscillatory modes in compact stars. One of them, SGR 0501+4516, is likely 1kpc from Earth, an order of magnitude closer than magnetars targeted in previous GW searches. A second, AXP 1E 1547.0-5408, gave a burst with an estimated isotropic energy >10
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)L35
JournalAstrophysical Journal Letters
Volume734
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

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