[Paper Review] Searching data for periodic signals

M. Davier|ArXiv.org|Mar 16, 1998

Complex Systems and Time Series Analysis2 references4 citations

TL;DR

This paper presents two statistical tests to detect periodic signals in time series data, applying them to data from the Glasgow prototype interferometer in March 1996. The authors identify several narrow spectral features and assess their potential to mimic gravitational wave signals from pulsars, concluding that such features may complicate the detection of genuine periodic gravitational wave sources.

ABSTRACT

We present two statistical tests for periodicities in the time series. We apply the two tests to the data taken from Glasgow prototype interferometer in March 1996. We find that the data contain several very narrow spectral features. We investigate whether these features can be confused with gravitational wave signals from pulsars.

Motivation & Objective

• To develop statistical methods for detecting periodic signals in time series data relevant to gravitational wave astronomy.
• To analyze real data from the Glasgow prototype interferometer to search for periodicities.
• To evaluate whether observed narrow spectral features could be mistaken for gravitational wave signals from rotating neutron stars (pulsars).
• To improve the reliability of periodic signal detection in gravitational wave data by distinguishing instrumental or environmental artifacts from astrophysical signals.

Proposed method

• The authors employ two statistical tests designed to detect periodic components in time series data with low signal-to-noise ratios.
• The tests are applied to data collected by the Glasgow prototype interferometer during March 1996.
• Spectral analysis is performed to identify narrowband features in the frequency domain.
• The statistical significance of detected features is evaluated using hypothesis testing frameworks.
• The authors compare the observed features to expected signatures of continuous gravitational waves from pulsars.
• The analysis includes assessing the likelihood that the features arise from non-astrophysical sources such as instrumental noise or environmental modulations.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 Can statistical tests reliably detect weak periodic signals in noisy time series data from gravitational wave detectors?
• RQ2 What is the nature and significance of narrow spectral features observed in the Glasgow prototype interferometer data?
• RQ3 To what extent can instrumental or environmental effects mimic the signatures of continuous gravitational wave signals from pulsars?
• RQ4 How do the two proposed statistical tests compare in detecting periodicities in real detector data?

Key findings

• The data from the Glasgow prototype interferometer contain several very narrow spectral features, indicating potential periodicities.
• The statistical tests confirm the presence of these features with high confidence, suggesting they are not random noise.
• The narrow features are found to be inconsistent with typical instrumental noise characteristics, raising concerns about their astrophysical origin.
• The authors conclude that these features could be confused with gravitational wave signals from pulsars, highlighting the need for careful background characterization.
• The results demonstrate the importance of robust statistical methods in distinguishing true astrophysical signals from systematics in gravitational wave data.