Project description
On the trail of continuous gravitational waves
Gravitational waves (GWs), predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916, are ripples in spacetime caused by highly energetic processes in the universe and were directly detected for the first time in 2015. The strongest ones are caused by cataclysmic events such as colliding neutron stars. Continuous GWs caused by wobbly, rotating neutron stars that are not perfect spheres have not yet been detected. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the BINSKY project aims to be the first to achieve this by employing challenging all-sky surveys for continuous wave signals from neutron stars in binary systems.
Objective
Gravitational waves from compact binary coalescences are now routinely detected, but other types of gravitational waves await to be discovered. Rotating neutron stars with an asymmetry around their rotating axis give rise to continuous waves, which differ from the already detected gravitational waves in their long duration (present during the whole observing runs) and expected weaker amplitude. Although many searches for continuous waves have been carried out, no detection has been achieved yet. The first detection of a continuous wave could be the next major discovery in gravitational-wave astronomy, probing the behaviour of matter at extreme conditions and the equation of state at densities above nuclear density that cannot be reached in any laboratory, the geometrical shape of neutron stars, and fundamental physics with tests of general relativity.
This action aims to make the first detection of a continuous wave signal, searching for signals from unknown neutron stars in binary systems. More than half of the known neutron stars in the sensitive frequency region of the gravitational-wave detectors are part of binary systems. Neutron stars in binary systems may be more likely to have the asymmetries needed to emit detectable continuous waves, since they might be accreting matter from their companions which provides a natural asymmetry. This increases the chances of detecting a continuous wave signal, making all-sky searches of continuous waves from binary systems one of the most promising scenarios.
All-sky surveys for continuous wave signals from neutron stars in binary systems are probably the most challenging search in gravitational-wave science. For this reason, they have been carried out seldom and at lower sensitivity compared to surveys from signals from isolated neutron stars, and with this project we want to address this deficiency. This project will be carried out at the Albert Einstein Institute in Hannover, within the research group lead by M.A. Papa.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences relativistic mechanics
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy observational astronomy gravitational waves
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy stellar astronomy neutron stars
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.