Detecting gravitational-wave memory with LIGO: implications of GW150914 [HEAP]

http://arxiv.org/abs/1605.01415


It may soon be possible for Advanced LIGO to detect hundreds of binary black hole mergers per year. We show how the accumulation of many such measurements will allow for the detection of gravitational-wave memory: a permanent displacement of spacetime that comes from strong-field, general relativistic effects. We estimate that Advanced LIGO operating at design sensitivity may be able to make a signal-to-noise ratio 3(5) detection of memory with $\sim 35\,(90)$ events with masses and distance similar to GW150914. Given current merger rate estimates (of one such event per $\sim16$ days), this could happen in as few as $\sim1.5\,(4)$ years of coincident data collection. We highlight the importance of incorporating higher-order gravitational-wave modes for parameter estimation of binary black hole mergers, and describe how our methods can also be used to detect higher-order modes themselves before Advanced LIGO reaches design sensitivity.

Read this paper on arXiv…

P. Lasky, E. Thrane, Y. Levin, et. al.
Fri, 6 May 16
6/60

Comments: Submitted for publication