Basilic: An end-to-end pipeline for Bayesian burst inference and model classification in gravitational-wave data

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Main Authors: Cuceu, Iuliu, Bizouard, Marie Anne
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Cuceu, Iuliu
Bizouard, Marie Anne
author_facet Cuceu, Iuliu
Bizouard, Marie Anne
contents We present Basilic, a dedicated pipeline for Bayesian model selection and parameter estimation of short-duration gravitational-wave burst signals observable with ground-based detectors. Built on top of the bilby framework, Basilic combines modularity, pre-implemented burst models, and HTCondor integration to enable rapid, user-friendly analyses with minimal technical overhead. This work outlines the design philosophy, operational flow, and a set of example use cases demonstrating its scientific potential. As a case study, we also undertake an in-depth exploration of the comparison between a binary black hole merger and a cosmic string signal, through a parameter space exploration injection campaign. In addition to the well-known high-mass binary black-hole signal morphology degeneracy with cosmic string-like signals, we find that high anti-aligned component spins, even at moderate mass, can result in a similar degeneracy. Motivated by the likely low-SNR expected regime of possible future detections, we propose a data-driven study of model degeneracy, to be employed in the event of an inconclusive Bayes factor.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_13839
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Basilic: An end-to-end pipeline for Bayesian burst inference and model classification in gravitational-wave data
Cuceu, Iuliu
Bizouard, Marie Anne
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
We present Basilic, a dedicated pipeline for Bayesian model selection and parameter estimation of short-duration gravitational-wave burst signals observable with ground-based detectors. Built on top of the bilby framework, Basilic combines modularity, pre-implemented burst models, and HTCondor integration to enable rapid, user-friendly analyses with minimal technical overhead. This work outlines the design philosophy, operational flow, and a set of example use cases demonstrating its scientific potential. As a case study, we also undertake an in-depth exploration of the comparison between a binary black hole merger and a cosmic string signal, through a parameter space exploration injection campaign. In addition to the well-known high-mass binary black-hole signal morphology degeneracy with cosmic string-like signals, we find that high anti-aligned component spins, even at moderate mass, can result in a similar degeneracy. Motivated by the likely low-SNR expected regime of possible future detections, we propose a data-driven study of model degeneracy, to be employed in the event of an inconclusive Bayes factor.
title Basilic: An end-to-end pipeline for Bayesian burst inference and model classification in gravitational-wave data
topic General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.13839