Parameter estimation of compact binaries using the inspiral and ringdown waveforms

TL;DR

This paper investigates how combining inspiral and ringdown gravitational wave signals improves parameter estimation for compact binary systems, using data from initial and advanced LIGO and VIRGO detectors.

Contribution

It introduces a method to jointly analyze inspiral and ringdown signals, enhancing parameter estimation without relying on merger phase assumptions.

Findings

Including ringdown data improves parameter accuracy.

Joint analysis yields better constraints than separate phases.

Results are applicable to both initial and advanced detectors.

Abstract

We analyze the problem of parameter estimation for compact binary systems that could be detected by ground-based gravitational wave detectors. So far this problem has only been dealt with for the inspiral and the ringdown phases separately. In this paper, we combine the information from both signals, and we study the improvement in parameter estimation, at a fixed signal-to-noise ratio, by including the ringdown signal without making any assumption on the merger phase. The study is performed for both initial and advanced LIGO and VIRGO detectors.