Gravitational Wave mergers as tracers of Large Scale Structures

TL;DR

This paper explores how gravitational wave merger clustering measurements in Luminosity Distance Space can be used for cosmological insights, including matter, dark energy, and merger bias, especially with future advanced detectors.

Contribution

It introduces a Fisher forecast framework for GW merger clustering in Luminosity Distance Space, assessing its potential for cosmology and merger bias detection with future detector scenarios.

Findings

Advanced detector scenarios improve cosmological parameter constraints.

Merger bias can be detected with high statistical significance.

GW mergers extend to high redshifts, offering unique cosmological probes.

Abstract

Clustering measurements of Gravitational Wave (GW) mergers in Luminosity Distance Space can be used in the future as a powerful tool for Cosmology. We consider tomographic measurements of the Angular Power Spectrum of mergers both in an Einstein Telescope-like detector network and in some more advanced scenarios (more sources, better distance measurements, better sky localization). We produce Fisher forecasts for both cosmological (matter and dark energy) and merger bias parameters. Our fiducial model for the number distribution and bias of GW events is based on results from hydrodynamical simulations. The cosmological parameter forecasts with Einstein Telescope are less powerful than those achievable in the near future via galaxy clustering observations with, e.g., Euclid. However, in the more advanced scenarios we see significant improvements. Moreover, we show that bias can be detected at high statistical significance. Regardless of the specific constraining power of different experiments, many aspects make this type of analysis interesting anyway. For example, compact binary mergers detected by Einstein Telescope will extend up to very high redshifts. Furthermore, Luminosity Distance Space Distortions in the GW analysis have a different structure with respect to Redshift-Space Distortions in galaxy catalogues. Finally, measurements of the bias of GW mergers can provide useful insight into their physical nature and properties.