Gravitational wave distance estimation using intrinsic signal properties: dark sirens as distance indicators

Title

Gravitational wave distance estimation using intrinsic signal properties: dark sirens as distance indicators

Creator

Trisha, V.; Rakesh, V.; Kenath, Arun

Description

Gravitational Waves (GWs) provide a powerful means for cosmological distance estimation, circumventing the systematic uncertainties associated with traditional electromagnetic (EM) indicators. This work presents a model for estimating distances to binary black hole (BBH) mergers using only GW data, independent of EM counterparts or galaxy catalogs. By utilizing the intrinsic properties of the GW signal, specifically the strain amplitude and merger frequency, our model offers a computationally efficient preliminary distance estimation approach that could complements existing Bayesian parameter estimation pipelines. In this work, we examine a simplified analytical expression for the GW luminosity distance derived from General Relativity (GR), based on the leading-order quadrupole approximation. Without incorporating post-Newtonian (PN) or numerical relativity (NR) corrections, or modeling spin, eccentricity, or inclination, we test how closely this expression can reproduce distances reported by full Bayesian inference pipelines. We apply our model to 87 events from the LIGO-Virgo-Kagra (LVK) Gravitational Wave Transient Catalogues (GWTC), computing distances for these sources. Our results demonstrate consistent agreement with GWTC-reported distances, further supported by graphical comparisons that highlight the models performance across multiple events. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025.

Source

Astrophysics and Space Science;Volume;370;Issue;8;Article No.;82;

Date

01-01-2025

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media B.V.

Subject

Dark sirens; Distance estimations; Gravitational waves

Coverage

Trisha V., Department of Physics and Electronics, Christ University, Karnataka, Bengaluru, 560029, India; Rakesh V., Department of Physics and Electronics, Christ University, Karnataka, Bengaluru, 560029, India; Kenath A., Department of Physics and Electronics, Christ University, Karnataka, Bengaluru, 560029, India

Rights

All Open Access; Green Open Access

Relation

ISSN: 0004640X;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Article

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-025-04466-z

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105013301189?origin=resultslist