Parameter estimation for compact binary coalescence signals with the first generation gravitational-wave detector network

Authors

J. Aasi
J. Abadie
Matthew Benacquista, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Teviet Creighton, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Mario C. Diaz, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Soma Mukherjee, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Volker Quetschke, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Malik Rakhmanov, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Robert Stone, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Cristina V. Torres, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2013

Abstract

Compact binary systems with neutron stars or black holes are one of the most promising sources for ground-based gravitational-wave detectors. Gravitational radiation encodes rich information about source physics; thus parameter estimation and model selection are crucial analysis steps for any detection candidate events. Detailed models of the anticipated waveforms enable inference on several parameters, such as component masses, spins, sky location and distance, that are essential for new astrophysical studies of these sources. However, accurate measurements of these parameters and discrimination of models describing the underlying physics are complicated by artifacts in the data, uncertainties in the waveform models and in the calibration of the detectors. Here we report such measurements on a selection of simulated signals added either in hardware or software to the data collected by the two LIGO instruments and the Virgo detector during their most recent joint science run, including a “blind injection” where the signal was not initially revealed to the collaboration. We exemplify the ability to extract information about the source physics on signals that cover the neutron-star and black-hole binary parameter space over the component mass range 1 M⊙–25 M⊙ and the full range of spin parameters. The cases reported in this study provide a snapshot of the status of parameter estimation in preparation for the operation of advanced detectors.

Comments

© 2013 American Physical Society. Original published version available at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.88.062001

Recommended Citation

Aasi, J., J. Abadie, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, T. D. Abbott, M. Abernathy, T. Accadia et al. "Parameter estimation for compact binary coalescence signals with the first generation gravitational-wave detector network." Physical Review D—Particles, Fields, Gravitation, and Cosmology 88, no. 6 (2013): 062001. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.88.062001

Publication Title

Physical Review D

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevD.88.062001