SWIGLAL: Python and Octave interfaces to the LALSuite gravitational-wave data analysis libraries

TL;DR

SWIGLAL provides Python and Octave interfaces to LALSuite's C-based gravitational-wave data analysis routines, enabling easier development of gravitational-wave software while maintaining computational efficiency.

Contribution

It introduces language interfaces for LALSuite, facilitating the development of gravitational-wave analysis tools in Python and Octave, which was not previously possible.

Findings

Enabled Python-based gravitational-wave analysis software.

Facilitated rapid development of analysis pipelines.

Supported the first detection of gravitational waves.

Abstract

The LALSuite data analysis libraries, written in C, implement key routines critical to the successful detection of gravitational waves, such as the template waveforms describing the merger of two black holes or two neutron stars. SWIGLAL is a component of LALSuite which provides interfaces for Python and Octave, making LALSuite routines accessible directly from scripts written in those languages. It has enabled modern gravitational-wave data analysis software, used in the first detection of gravitational waves, to be written in Python, thereby benefiting from its ease of development and rich feature set, while still having access to the computational speed and scientific trustworthiness of the routines provided by LALSuite.