OctApps: a library of Octave functions for continuous gravitational-wave data analysis

Abstract

Gravitational waves are minute ripples in spacetime, first predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity in 1916. Gravitational waves from rapidly-rotating neutron stars, whose shape deviates from perfect axisymmetry, are a potential astrophysical source of gravitational waves, but which so far have not been detected. The search for this type of signals, also known as continuous waves, presents a significant data analysis challenge, as their weak signatures are expected to be buried deep within the instrumental noise of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. The OctApps library provides various functions, written in Octave, intended to aid research scientists who perform searches for continuous gravitational waves.