The Precision Ephemerides for Gravitational-wave Searches (PEGS) program has been going now for a decade, with the goal of improving the sensitivity for continuous gravitational-wave searches. The neutron star targets for such searches are often in binary systems, so optimal searches depend on precisely correcting for the orbital motion, requiring in turn precise orbital parameters (orbital period, semimajor axis etc.). Warwick student Tom Killestein has led the latest instalment of this program, and in his now-accepted paper arXiv:2302.00018 has presented the most precise orbital parameters yet, including substantial improvements in our understanding of the orbital properties of Sco X-1. These results are having a direct impact on GW searches, although sadly no detections as yet. However, Tom's work will continue to contribute to GW searches into the future, with more observations and analyses planned.

Labels: 2023, gravitational waves