Multi-band gravitational-wave astronomy: parameter estimation and tests of general relativity with space and ground-based detectors

TL;DR

This paper investigates how multi-band gravitational-wave observations combining space-based eLISA data with ground-based detectors can enhance parameter estimation and tests of general relativity, especially for black hole binaries.

Contribution

It demonstrates that prior information from eLISA can significantly improve distance and spin measurements and refine tests of general relativity with ground-based detectors.

Findings

eLISA can reduce distance and spin uncertainties by up to a factor of 2.

Component mass estimates are not significantly refined by joint analysis.

Joint analysis improves black hole characterization and GR tests.

Abstract

With the discovery of the black hole binary (BBH) coalescence GW150914 the era of gravitational-wave (GW) astronomy has started. It has recently been shown that BBH with masses comparable to or higher than GW150914 would be visible in the eLISA band a few years before they finally merge in the band of ground-based detectors. This would allow for pre-merger electromagnetic alerts, dramatically increasing the chances of a joint detection, if BBH are indeed luminous in the electromagnetic band. In this paper we explore a quite different aspect of multi-band GW astronomy, and verify if, and to what extent, measurement of masses and sky position with eLISA could improve parameter estimation and tests of general relativity with ground-based detectors. We generate a catalog of 200 BBH and find that having prior information from eLISA can reduce the uncertainty in the measurement of source distance and primary black hole spin by up to factor of 2 in ground-based GW detectors. The component masses estimate from eLISA will not be refined by the ground based detectors, whereas joint analysis will yield precise characterization of the newly formed black hole and improve consistency tests of general relativity.