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Observing Merging Massive Black Hole Binaries with LISAThe Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is expected to detect gravitational radiation from the inspiral and merger of massive black hole binaries at high redshifts with large signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). These high-SNR observations will make it possible to extract physical parameters such as hole masses and spins, luminosity distance, and sky position from the observed waveforms. LISA'S effectiveness as a tool for astrophysics will be influenced by the precision with which these parameters can be measured. In addition, the practicality of coordinated observations with other instruments will be affected by the temporal evolution of parameter errors such as sky position. We present estimates of parameter errors for the special case of non-spinning black holes. Our focus is on the contribution of the late inspiral and merger portions of the waveform, a regime which typically dominates the SNR but has not been extensively studied due to the historic lack of a precise description of the waveform. Advances in numerical relativity have recently made such studies possible. Initial results suggest that the portion of the waveform beyond the Schwarzchild inner-most stable circular orbit can reduce parameter uncertainties by up to a factor of two.
Document ID
20090016211
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Thorpe, J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
McWillimas, S.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Baker, J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Arnaud, K.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2009
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2009 Meeting of the American Physical Society
Location: Colorado
Country: United States
Start Date: May 2, 2009
End Date: May 5, 2009
Sponsors: American Physical Society Headquarters
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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