Statistics of the detection rates for tensor and scalar gravitational waves from the Local Galaxy universe

¹ Astronomical Institute of the Saint-Petersburg University, 198504 St.-Petersburg, Russia
² Isaac Newton Institute of Chile, Saint-Petersburg Branch, Russia
³ CRAL-Observatoire de Lyon, 69561 Saint-Genis Laval Cedex, France

Corresponding author: G. Paturel, patu@obs.univ-lyon1.fr

Received: 19 May 2000
Accepted: 7 March 2001

Abstract

We use data on the local 3-dimensional galaxy distribution for studying the statistics of the detection rates of gravitational waves (GW) coming from supernova explosions. We consider both tensor and scalar gravitational waves which are possible in a wide range of relativistic and quantum gravity theories. We show that statistics of GW events as a function of sidereal time can be used for distinction between scalar and tensor gravitational waves because of the anisotropy of spatial galaxy distribution. For calculation of the expected amplitudes of GW signals we use the values of the released GW energy, frequency and duration of GW pulse which are consistent with existing scenarios of SN core collapse. The amplitudes of the signals produced by Virgo and the Great Attractor clusters of galaxies is expressed as a function of the sidereal time for resonant bar detectors operating now (IGEC) and for forthcoming laser interferometric detectors (VIRGO). Then, we calculate the expected number of GW events as a function of sidereal time produced by all the galaxies within 100 Mpc. In the case of axisymmetric rotational core collapse which radiates a GW energy of , only the closest explosions can be detected. However, in the case of nonaxisymmetric supernova explosion, due to such phenomena as centrifugal hangup, bar and lump formation, the GW radiation could be as strong as that from a coalescing neutron-star binary. For radiated GW energy higher than and sensitivity of detectors at the level it is possible to detect Virgo cluster and Great Attractor, and hence to use the statistics of GW events for testing gravity theories.