Incorporating model accuracy into gravitational-wave Bayesian inference

Abstract

Inferring the properties of colliding black holes from gravitational-wave observations is subject to systematic errors arising from modelling uncertainties. Although the accuracy of each model can be calculated through comparison to theoretical expectations from general relativity, Bayesian analyses are yet to incorporate this information. As such, a mixture model is typically used where results obtained with different gravitational-wave models are combined with either equal weight, or based on their relative Bayesian evidence. In this work we present a novel method to incorporate the accuracy of multiple models in gravitational-wave Bayesian analyses. By analysing simulated gravitational-wave signals in zero-noise, we show that our technique uses 30% less computational resources, and more faithfully recovers the true parameters than existing techniques. We envisage that this method will become an essential tool within ground-based gravitational-wave astronomy.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Jonathan E. Thompson: orcid.org/0000-0002-0419-5517

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