A method for detecting gravitational waves coincident with gamma-ray bursts

The mechanism for gamma-ray bursters and the detection of gravitational wav es (GWs) are two outstanding problems facing modem physics. Many models of gamma-ray bursters predict copious GW emission, so the assumption of an ass ociation between GWs and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) may be testable with exist ing bar GW detector data. We consider Weber bar data streams in the vicinit y of known GRB times and present calculations of the expected signal after co-addition of 1000 GW/GRBs that have been shifted to a common zero time. O ur calculations are based on assumptions concerning the GW spectrum and the redshift distribution of GW/GRB sources that are consistent with current G W/GRB models. We discuss further possibilities of GW detection associated w ith GRBs in light of future bar detector improvements and suggest that co-a ddition of data from several improved bar detectors may result in detection of GWs (if the GW/GRB assumption is correct) on a timescale comparable to the LIGO projects.