Searching for numerically-simulated signals of black hole binaries with a phenomenological template family

TL;DR

This paper explores the use of phenomenological waveform templates, based on hybrid models, to detect numerically simulated black hole binary signals in synthetic gravitational wave data, extending search capabilities to higher masses.

Contribution

It introduces a method for applying phenomenological templates to numerically simulated signals, advancing gravitational wave search techniques for higher-mass black hole binaries.

Findings

Successful detection of simulated signals using phenomenological templates

Extension of inspiral search methods to higher-mass systems

Validation within the NINJA project framework

Abstract

Recent progress in numerical relativity now allows computation of the binary black hole merger, whereas post-Newtonian and perturbative techniques can be used to model the inspiral and ringdown phases. So far, most gravitational-wave searches have made use of various post-Newtonian-inspired templates to search for signals arising from the coalescence of compact binary objects. Ajith et al have produced hybrid waveforms for non-spinning binary black-hole systems which include the three stages of the coalescence process, and constructed from them phenomenological templates which capture the features of these waveforms in a parametrized form. As a first step towards extending the present inspiral searches to higher-mass binary black-hole systems, we have used these phenomenological waveforms in a search for numerically-simulated signals injected into synthetic LIGO data as part of the NINJA project.