Connecting the disconnected: development and testing of a prior to detect highly eccentric sources

Recent simulations of compact binary populations have predicted that some binaries may have non-negligible eccentricity when entering the LIGO band. Highly eccentric systems produce a series of disconnected bursts that current data analysis methods in LIGO cannot detect, and even modest eccentricities without separated bursts present a challenge for existing methods. Therefore, we are developing an unmodeled algorithm to target disconnected bursts of power in time and frequency due to eccentric modulations. Specifically, we propose a new signal prior for use within the existing BayesWave infrastructure for conducting Bayesian analyses of LIGO data. This prior will help to connect these disconnected bursts occurring throughout the waveform. It does this by using an orbital model that predicts the locations in time and frequency for the next or previous burst, within an appropriately defined uncertainty interval, allowing us to link together individually weaker bursts and identify them collectively as a signal. We will discuss current developments and results of testing this prior.