General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, abstract
gr-qc/0604032

From: Chris Van Den Broeck [view email]

Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2006 12:43:13 GMT (15kb)

Binary black hole detection rates in inspiral gravitational wave searches

Authors: Chris Van Den Broeck

Comments: 9 pages, 1 figure

The signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) for binary black hole inspirals computed from restricted post-Newtonian waveforms are compared with those attained by more complete post-Newtonian signals, which are superpositions of amplitude-corrected harmonics of the orbital phase. It is shown that modeling signals as restricted waveforms can lead to a large overestimation of SNRs, and hence of detection rates. The effect results entirely from the absence of amplitude corrections to the dominant harmonic. By reinstating these, it is possible to construct reliable waveforms for simulated signals without having to include higher harmonics.

http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0604032