Abstract
As Einstein’s equations for binary compact object inspiral have only been approximately or intermittently solved by analytic or numerical methods, the models used to infer parameters of gravitational wave (GW) sources are subject to waveform modeling uncertainty. We illustrate these differences and then introduce a very efficient technique to marginalize over waveform uncertainties, relative to a prespecified sequence of waveform models. We also extend this technique to include dynamic weighting by calculating overlap of models with Numerical Relativity. Being based on RIFT, a very efficient parameter inference engine, our technique can directly account for any available models, including very accurate but computationally costly waveforms. Our evidence and likelihood-based method works robustly on a point-by-point basis, enabling accurate marginalization for models with strongly disjoint posteriors while simultaneously increasing the reusability and efficiency of our intermediate calculations.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Gravitational waves--Mathematical models; Double stars--Mathematical models
Publication Date
8-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Student Type
Graduate
Degree Name
Physics (MS)
Department, Program, or Center
School of Physics and Astronomy (COS)
Advisor
George M. Thurston
Advisor/Committee Member
Richard O'Shaughnessy
Advisor/Committee Member
Carlos Lousto
Recommended Citation
Jan, Aasim Zahoor, "Marginalizing over the waveform systematics of compact binary coalescence models using RIFT" (2021). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from
https://repository.rit.edu/theses/10935
Campus
RIT – Main Campus
Plan Codes
PHYS-MS
