Improved analysis of GW150914 using a fully spin-precessing waveform model

LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

136 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper presents updated estimates of source parameters for GW150914, a binary black-hole coalescence event detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) in 2015 [Abbott et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 061102 (2016).]. Abbott et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 241102 (2016).] presented parameter estimation of the source using a 13-dimensional, phenomenological precessing-spin model (precessing IMRPhenom) and an 11-dimensional nonprecessing effective-one body (EOB) model calibrated to numerical-relativity simulations, which forces spin alignment (nonprecessing EOBNR). Here, we present new results that include a 15-dimensional precessingspin waveform model (precessing EOBNR) developed within the EOB formalism. We find good agreement with the parameters estimated previously [Abbott et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 241102 (2016).], and we quote updated component masses of 35 +5 -3 M· and 30 +5 -3 M· (where errors correspond to 90% symmetric credible intervals). We also present slightly tighter constraints on the dimensionless spin magnitudes of the two black holes, with a primary spin estimate < 0.65 and a secondary spin estimate < 0.75 at 90% probability. Abbott et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 241102 (2016).] estimated the systematic parameter-extraction errors due to waveform-model uncertainty by combining the posterior probability densities of precessing IMRPhenom and nonprecessing EOBNR. Here, we find that the two precessing-spin models are in closer agreement, suggesting that these systematic errors are smaller than previously quoted.

Original languageEnglish
Article number041014
JournalPhysical Review X
Volume6
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Science Foundation1104371, 1207010, 1308527, 1307401, 1307489, 1404139, 1505629, 1506360, 1608423, 1028087, 1505779
Science and Technology Facilities CouncilST/N000064/1, ST/K005014/1, ST/M004090/1, ST/N00003X/1, ST/J000019/1, ST/H002006/1, ST/L000954/1, ST/J000345/1, ST/I000887/1, ST/N000072/1, ST/N005716/1, ST/L000326/1, PPA/G/S/2002/00652, ST/N005406/1, Gravitational Waves, ST/K000845/1, ST/I006285/1, ST/L003465/1, ST/I006242/1, ST/I006269/1, ST/N000080/1, ST/L000946/1, ST/L000962/1, ST/N000633/1, ST/J00166X/1, ST/N005430/1

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