Sky localization of gravitational waves from eccentric binaries

TL;DR

This paper shows that considering orbital eccentricity in gravitational wave data analysis can significantly enhance the sky localization of merging compact binaries, aiding early warning and follow-up observations.

Contribution

It introduces an eccentricity-optimized localization algorithm and demonstrates its effectiveness through simulations, laying groundwork for an eccentric early-warning system.

Findings

Eccentricity improves sky localization accuracy.

Eccentricity-optimized algorithms outperform existing methods.

Potential for better early-warning detection of eccentric neutron star binaries.

Abstract

We demonstrate that the orbital eccentricity in compact binary mergers can be used to improve their sky localization using gravitational wave observations. Existing algorithms that conduct the localizations are not optimized for eccentric sources. We use a semi-Bayesian technique to carry out localizations of simulated sources recovered using a matched-filter search. Through these simulations, we find that if a non-negligible eccentricity is obtained during the detection, an eccentricity-optimized algorithm can significantly improve the localization areas compared to the existing methods. We also lay out the foundation for an eccentric early-warning system using the matched-filter search. The potential impact on the early-warning localization is investigated. We indicate a few possible cases of improvements while accounting for eccentricity toward any detectable eccentric neutron star binaries in the forthcoming observing scenarios of ground-based detectors. Improved localizations can be useful in effectually utilizing the capabilities of the follow-up facilities.