Tests of General Relativity with GW170817

Document #:

LIGO-P1800059-v9

Document type:

P - Publications

Abstract:

The recent discovery by Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo of a gravitational wave signal from a binary neutron star inspiral has enabled tests of general relativity (GR) with this new type of source. This source, for the first time, permits tests of strong-field dynamics of compact binaries in presence of matter. In this paper, we place constraints on the dipole radiation and possible deviations from GR in the post-Newtonian coefficients that govern the inspiral regime. Bounds on modified dispersion of gravitational waves are obtained; in combination with information from the observed electromagnetic counterpart we can also constrain effects due to large extra dimensions. Finally, the polarization content of the gravitational wave signal is studied. The results of all tests performed here show good agreement with GR.

Files in Document:

• main.pdf (1.1 MB)

Other Files:

• Data_Release_Example.ipynb (366.4 kB)
• README.md (959 bytes)
• phenompnrt_posteriors.tar.gz (6.4 MB)
• reparameterize_posteriors.py (10.6 kB)
• seobnrt_posteriors.tar.gz (11.3 MB)

Topics:

• Data Analysis

Author Groups:

• LVC
• LSC

Notes and Changes:

URL for downloading data files in ipython notebook updated to match public DCC page