A Generic Stochastic Template Bank Placement Algorithm
Abstract
Black hole binary (BBH) systems represent strong candidates for gravitational wave (GW) detection by GW detectors LIGO and Virgo. BBH searches are template based searches where the templates describe potential GWs. Most BBH sources are spinning strongly enough to affect orbital dynamics though past searches have all been for non-spinning systems. Neglecting spin results in a significant decrease in a BBH search's sensitivity to spinning systems while the inclusion of leading order, single parameter spin corrections regain much of that sensitivity. BBH templates in past searches were chosen so that the overlap between neighboring templates was 97%. The optimal placement of non-spinning, inspiral templates is known but does not work for systems described by more parameters. For spinning systems, the placement metric is not known and stochastic methods like the one described in this poster are necessary. The method described here is based on previous stochastic work. It represents a fast, flexible, open-source tool using publicly available LIGO Algorithms Library (LAL) to generate stochastic banks for any template family no matter the number of parameters used to describe it. The method shows more efficient coverage of the parameter space of interest than a discrete stacking of a two-dimensional bank in a third direction.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #219
- Pub Date:
- January 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012AAS...21944018F