Astrophysics with LIGO/Virgo, the challenges of parameter estimation

Vivien Raymond (Norhtwestern University)

Gravitational waves are on the verge of opening a brand new window on the universe. However, gravitational wave astronomy comes with very unique challenges in data analysis and signal processing. LIGO/Virgo will soon enter their advanced phases and, among the anticipated detections, compact binary coalescences are of special interest because these events are one of the most promising for extracting astrophysical parameters of source systems. I will try to cover the challenges of gravitational wave observations, focusing on those sources. In particular, I will present a method using the Bayesian statistical framework and the Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for parameter estimation and model selection applied to spinning compact binary coalescences. In this method spinning parameters can be estimated, and in fact we find they have to be included in our model waveforms to avoid very significant biases in overall parameter estimation.