Heterodyned Likelihood for Rapid Gravitational Wave Parameter Inference

TL;DR

This paper presents an efficient implementation of the heterodyned likelihood method, drastically reducing computational costs for gravitational wave parameter inference across various signal types and detectors.

Contribution

It introduces a versatile, computationally efficient heterodyned likelihood approach applicable to diverse gravitational wave signals and detector configurations.

Findings

Computational savings of 100 to 10,000 times compared to direct likelihood calculation.

Greatest efficiency gains for low mass systems like neutron star binaries.

Method can incorporate calibration uncertainties and noise spectrum marginalization.

Abstract

Inferring the source properties of a gravitational wave signal has traditionally been very computationally intensive and time consuming. In recent years, several techniques have been developed that can significantly reduce the computational cost while delivering rapid and accurate parameter inference. One of the most powerful of these techniques is the heterodyned likelihood, which uses a reference waveform to base-band the likelihood calculation. Here an efficient implementation of the heterodyned likelihood is presented that can be used for a wide range of signal types and for both ground based and space based interferometers. The computational savings relative to direct calculation of the likelihood vary between two and four orders of magnitude depending on the system. The savings are greatest for low mass systems such as neutron star binaries. The heterodyning procedure can incorporate marginalization over calibration uncertainties and the noise power spectrum.