On Estimation of the Post-Newtonian Parameters in the Gravitational-Wave Emission of a Coalescing Binary

TL;DR

This paper examines how second post-Newtonian corrections impact the accuracy of gravitational-wave parameter estimation from coalescing binaries, highlighting improvements and limitations in current detection templates.

Contribution

It evaluates the effect of 2nd post-Newtonian corrections on parameter estimation accuracy and compares the performance of Newtonian and post-Newtonian search templates.

Findings

2nd post-Newtonian corrections degrade individual mass estimation accuracy.

Chirp mass and time parameters remain accurately determined.

Both Newtonian and post-Newtonian templates effectively extract binary information.

Abstract

The effect of the recently obtained 2nd post-Newtonian corrections on the accuracy of estimation of parameters of the gravitational-wave signal from a coalescing binary is investigated. It is shown that addition of this correction degrades considerably the accuracy of determination of individual masses of the members of the binary. However the chirp mass and the time parameter in the signal is still determined to a very good accuracy. The possibility of estimation of effects of other theories of gravity is investigated. The performance of the Newtonian filter is investigated and it is compared with performance of post-Newtonian search templates introduced recently. It is shown that both search templates can extract accurately useful information about the binary.