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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.15048 |
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| _version_ | 1866908892037906432 |
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| author | Ursell, Ryan Hoy, Charlie Harry, Ian Nuttall, Laura K. |
| author_facet | Ursell, Ryan Hoy, Charlie Harry, Ian Nuttall, Laura K. |
| contents | Our ability to infer the true source properties of colliding black holes from gravitational wave observations requires not only accurate waveform models but also their correct use. A key property when evaluating time-domain models is when to start the waveform: choosing a time that is too late can omit low-frequency power from higher order multipoles. By focusing on binary systems with total mass $\ge 200 \, M_{\odot}$, we show that current detectors are sensitive to this missing power and biased source properties can be obtained. We show that for systems with total mass $\lesssim 300 \, M_{\odot}$, mass ratio $\gtrsim 0.33$, and signal-to-noise ratio $ρ\gtrsim 20$, templates starting at $20 \, \mathrm{Hz}$ recover biased source properties. As the total mass increases, and the component masses become more asymmetric, templates starting from $13 \, \mathrm{Hz}$ recover biased properties. If the gravitational-wave signal is observed at signal-to-noise ratio $ρ< 20$, time-domain models can start from $20\, \mathrm{Hz}$ as statistical uncertainties dominate. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_15048 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | The Missing Multipole Problem: Investigating biases from model starting frequency in gravitational-wave analyses Ursell, Ryan Hoy, Charlie Harry, Ian Nuttall, Laura K. General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics Our ability to infer the true source properties of colliding black holes from gravitational wave observations requires not only accurate waveform models but also their correct use. A key property when evaluating time-domain models is when to start the waveform: choosing a time that is too late can omit low-frequency power from higher order multipoles. By focusing on binary systems with total mass $\ge 200 \, M_{\odot}$, we show that current detectors are sensitive to this missing power and biased source properties can be obtained. We show that for systems with total mass $\lesssim 300 \, M_{\odot}$, mass ratio $\gtrsim 0.33$, and signal-to-noise ratio $ρ\gtrsim 20$, templates starting at $20 \, \mathrm{Hz}$ recover biased source properties. As the total mass increases, and the component masses become more asymmetric, templates starting from $13 \, \mathrm{Hz}$ recover biased properties. If the gravitational-wave signal is observed at signal-to-noise ratio $ρ< 20$, time-domain models can start from $20\, \mathrm{Hz}$ as statistical uncertainties dominate. |
| title | The Missing Multipole Problem: Investigating biases from model starting frequency in gravitational-wave analyses |
| topic | General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.15048 |