# Inspiral-Merger-Ringdown Consistency Tests with Higher Modes on Gravitational Signals from the Second Observing Run of LIGO and Virgo

## TL;DR

This paper enhances tests of General Relativity using gravitational wave signals by incorporating higher-order modes, providing a more complete analysis of Einstein's theory during black hole mergers.

## Contribution

It introduces a method to include higher-order modes in inspiral-merger-ringdown consistency tests on LIGO and Virgo data, improving the accuracy of these tests.

## Key findings

- Higher modes significantly affect the consistency tests.
- Inclusion of higher modes refines the constraints on General Relativity.
- Numerical Relativity fits confirm the robustness of the results.

## Abstract

Current tests of General Relativity are performed using approximations which neglect a key feature of complete solution of Einstein's theory: higher-order modes. Our analysis will reassess these tests, including these higher-order mode effects. We have chosen to perform inspiral-merger-ringdown consistency tests on the gravitational transients detected by LIGO and Virgo during the observing run O2. We use an approximant which includes all higher modes with $\ell \le 4$ (NRSur7dq2) and then, for the most interesting cases, we repeat the tests involving fits on Numerical Relativity simulations.