Inspiral-merger-ringdown waveforms for black-hole binaries with non-precessing spins

TL;DR

This paper introduces the first analytical gravitational waveforms for non-precessing binary black hole mergers, combining post-Newtonian and numerical relativity methods to enhance detection capabilities.

Contribution

It provides a new waveform family for non-precessing black hole binaries, improving detection of a broader parameter space including some precessing systems.

Findings

Waveforms enable detection of a larger BBH parameter space

Matching post-Newtonian and numerical relativity improves accuracy

Significantly increases expected detection rates

Abstract

We present the first analytical inspiral-merger-ringdown gravitational waveforms from binary black holes (BBHs) with non-precessing spins, that is based on a description of the late-inspiral, merger and ringdown in full general relativity. By matching a post-Newtonian description of the inspiral to a set of numerical-relativity simulations, we obtain a waveform family with a conveniently small number of physical parameters. These waveforms will allow us to detect a larger parameter space of BBH coalescence, including a considerable fraction of precessing binaries in the comparable-mass regime, thus significantly improving the expected detection rates.