Upper limits on a stochastic gravitational-wave background using LIGO and Virgo interferometers at 600–1000 Hz

Abstract

A stochastic background of gravitational waves is expected to arise from a superposition of many incoherent sources of gravitational waves, of either cosmological or astrophysical origin. This background is a target for the current generation of ground-based detectors. In this article we present the first joint search for a stochastic background using data from the LIGO and Virgo interferometers. In a frequency band of 600--1000 Hz, we obtained a 95% upper limit on the amplitude of ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{\mathrm{GW}}(f)={\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{3}(f/900\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{Hz}{)}^{3}$, of ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{3}<0.32$, assuming a value of the Hubble parameter of ${h}_{100}=0.71$. These new limits are a factor of seven better than the previous best in this frequency band.