A data analysis approach for detecting gravitational waves from PSR 0437-4715

A search for gravitational waves from the millisecond pulsar PSR 0337-4715 has been initiated using the bar detector NIOBE which is located at the Uni versity of Western Australia, We present a detailed report on the data anal ysis algorithm, called phase plane rotation, which will be used in this sea rch. A discussion of the actual implementation of the algorithm is presente d. The data analysis algorithm mentioned above has the advantage that it re quires minimal changes to the already-existing data acquisition facility of NIOBE but, at the same time, it is as efficient as optimal filtering in de tecting a signal. This search involves a very long coherent integration of the bar output which may stretch over a few years. With some planned improv ements in the detector, a three-year integration should be able to put an u pper limit of h similar to 10(-26) on the signal amplitude.