Gravitational-Wave Inference from Binary Compact Objects

This proposal outlines how we will continue and build upon their work within the Compact Binary Coalescence analysis group of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. In the coming years, the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA network of gravitational-wave (GW) observatories will provide frequent detections of signals from compact-object binaries. Our work covers the analysis of these signals to infer the source properties, and the astrophysical interpretation of the results. The large number of detections will enable us to not only look at the properties of single events, but also to consider the properties of the population and make statistical statements about the formation and evolution of compact binaries. To extract the maximum return from these unique measurements, we will combine GW observations with electromagnetic data to build a multimessenger picture of the physics of compact-object binary coalescences. The proposed work is to develop a concrete framework to efficiently analyze CBC detections and exploit these novel data to push the frontiers of compact-object astrophysics.