Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-24-2026
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review D
Abstract
We present a search for gravitational waves from inspiraling, planetary-mass ultracompact binaries using data from the first part of the fourth observing run of LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA. Finding no evidence of such systems, we determine the maximum distance reach for such objects and their merger rate densities. Then, we identify classes of primordial black hole mass distributions for which these rate limits can be translated into relevant constraints on the mass distribution of primordial black holes, assuming that they are all composed of dark matter, in the mass range [10−6,10−3]𝑀⊙. Our constraints for the class of primordial black hole mass distribution functions 𝑓(𝑚) we consider reach down to 𝑓(𝑚) ∼0.1. They are consistent with existing microlensing results in the planetary-mass range, provide a complementary probe to subsolar mass objects, and are publicly available [1].
DOI
10.1103/s551-7pch
MSU Digital Commons Citation
The LIGO Scientific Collaboration; The Virgo Collaboration; The KAGRA Collaboration; Favata, Marc; Ghosh, Shoan; and Martin, Rodica M., "Search for planetary-mass ultracompact binaries using data from the first part of the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA fourth observing run" (2026). Department of Physics and Astronomy Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 172.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/physics-astron-facpubs/172
Rights
Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license
Published Citation
Abac, A. G., et al. “Search for Planetary-Mass Ultracompact Binaries Using Data from the First Part of the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA Fourth Observing Run.” Physical Review D, vol. 114, no. 2, July 2026, p. 022005. https://doi.org/10.1103/s551-7pch.