First search for gravitational waves from inspiraling compact binaries using TAMA300 data

Abstract

We analyzed 6 hours of data from the TAMA300 detector by matched filtering, searching for gravitational waves from inspiraling compact binaries. We incorporated a two-step hierarchical search strategy in matched filtering. We obtained an upper limit of 0.59/hour (C.L.=90%) on the event rate of inspirals of compact binaries with a mass between ${0.3M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ and ${10M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ and with a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 7.2. The distance of ${1.4M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}{(0.5M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}})$ binaries which produce the signal-to-noise ratio 7.2 was estimated to be 6.2 kpc (2.9 kpc) when the position of the source in the sky and the inclination angle of the binaries were optimal.