Work

Reconstructing source motion from gravitational wave strain

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Searches for un-modelled burst gravitational wave (GW) signals return potential candidates for short-duration signals. As there is no clear model for the source in these searches, one needs to understand and reconstruct the system that produced the GWs. Here, we aim to reconstruct the source motion and masses of a system based only on its GW strain. We train a normalising flow on two models, including circular orbits and random unphysical motion of two point masses. These models are used as a toy problem to illustrate the technique. We then reconstruct a distribution of possible motions of masses that can produce the given GW signal. We demonstrate the ability to reconstruct the full distribution of possible mass motions from strain data across multiple GW detectors. This distribution encompasses the degenerate motions that are expected to produce identical GW strains.

Source: Classical and Quantum Gravity

DOI: 10.1088/1361-6382/adff33

Authors: Joe Bayley, Chris Messenger, Graham Woan

Institution: University of Glasgow

Language: English

Topic: Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,325

Funders: National Science Foundation, Science and Technology Facilities Council