Early Advanced LIGO binary neutron-star sky localization and parameter estimation

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Abstract:: 2015 will see the first observations of Advanced LIGO and the start of the advanced-detector era. One of the most promising sources of gravitational waves for ground-based detectors are binary neutron-star (BNS) coalescences. In order to use any detections for astrophysics, we must understand the capabilities of our parameter-estimation analysis. By simulating the gravitational waves from an astrophysically motivated population of BNSs, we examine the accuracy of parameter inferences in the early advanced-detector era. We find that sky location, which is important for electromagnetic follow-up, can be determined rapidly (~5 s), but that sky areas may be hundreds of square degrees. The degeneracy between component mass and spin means there is significant uncertainty for measurements of the individual masses and spins; however, the chirp mass is well measured (typically better than 0.1%).

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LIGO Document P1500155-v4