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Abstract

We present a new ${\it{gating}}$ method to remove non-Gaussian noise
transients in gravitational wave data. The method does not rely on any a-priori
knowledge on the amplitude or duration of the transient events. In light of the
character of the newly released LIGO O3a data, glitch-identification is
particularly relevant for searches using this data. Our method preserves more
data than previously achieved, while obtaining the same, if not higher, noise
reduction. We achieve a $\approx$ 2-fold reduction in zeroed-out data with
respect to the gates released by LIGO on the O3a data. We describe the method
and characterise its performance. While developed in the context of searches
for continuous signals, this method can be used to prepare gravitational wave
data for any search. As the cadence of compact binary inspiral detections
increases and the lower noise level of the instruments unveils new glitches,
excising disturbances effectively, precisely, and in a timely manner, becomes
more important. Our method does this. We release the source code associated
with this new technique and the gates for the newly released O3 data.