LIGO Document G1500553-v3
- Advanced LIGO will begin observing later in 2015. When it does, binary neutron-star (BNS) coalescences are one of the most promising gravitational-wave sources. In order to use any detections for astronomy, we must understand the capabilities of our parameter-estimation analysis. We discuss the parameter-estimation pipeline that will be used for BNS signals. A variety of algorithms are employed to make Bayesian inferences about the parameters. We test these by simulating detector noise and the gravitational waves from an astrophysically motivated BNS population. We show that results are robust again non-Gaussianity of the noise and discuss the accuracy of inferred parameters in the early advanced-detector era. We find that sky location, which is important for electromagnetic follow-up, can be determined rapidly (under 1 minute), but that sky areas may be hundreds of square degrees. The chirp mass is well measured (typically better than 0.1%), but to measure individual component masses, we must include the effects of spin.
- Change to "for the LSC" byline following clarification from P&P.
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