Efficient method for measuring the parameters encoded in a gravitational-wave signal. (13th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Haster, Carl-Johan; Mandel, Ilya; Farr, Will M
• Is Part Of: Classical and quantum gravity. Volume 32:Number 23(2015:Dec.)
• Publication Date: 2015-11-13
• Subjects: gravitational waves -- parameter estimation -- data analysis; 02.50.Tt -- 04.30.–w -- 95.85.Sz; Quantum gravity -- Periodicals; Gravitation -- Periodicals; Relativity (Physics) -- Periodicals; Space and time -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 521.1
• DOI: 10.1088/0264-9381/32/23/235017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-9381

Abstract

Abstract: Once upon a time, predictions for the accuracy of inference on gravitational-wave signals relied on computationally inexpensive but often imprecise techniques. Recently, the approach has shifted to actual inference on noisy signals with complex stochastic Bayesian methods, at the expense of significant computational cost. Here, we argue that it is often possible to have the best of both worlds: a Bayesian approach that incorporates prior information and correctly marginalizes over uninteresting parameters, providing accurate posterior probability distribution functions, but carried out on a simple grid at a low computational cost, comparable to the inexpensive predictive techniques.