Research Projects

The LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration has reported over 100 compact binary mergers since the first detection of gravitational waves from the merger of two black holes. These observations have provided new insights into compact binary physics and astrophysics, and improved our understanding of the underlying astrophysical population of these objects. However, analyses focusing on extracting source properties can be expensive if the duration of observed signals is long or if the analysis is performed over a larger parameter space. Parameter estimation of compact binary mergers is typically performed over 15-dimensional parameter space. If the observed binary is eccentric and involves at least one Neutron star, search parameter space grows by at least 2. However, if the presence of eccentricity is ruled out, the analysis can be performed assuming circular templates, reducing costs. The current proposal aims to infer the presence of eccentricity in signals observed during O4 and assess its impact on parameter estimation of observed GW signals. Investigations will involve construction of generic signal models, inferring the presence of eccentricity in detected events through matched filter analyses involving eccentric templates, and a follow-up injection analysis for selected events with hints of being eccentric to aid subsequent parameter estimation studies. Gravitational waveforms from compact binary mergers will include physical effects such as orbital eccentricity, spins, higher-order modes, and matter.