Accurate identification of the nature of signals in ground-based gravitational-wave interferometer data

贝叶斯参数估计和模型选择方法对于测量利用LIGO-Virgo网络的引力波观测到的双星黑洞和双星中子星的性质是必不可少的。这些技术是引力波天体物理学新领域的关键组成部分。这个项目将改进现有的方法以提高我们对下一步观测的理解。目前还不可能准确地求解爱因斯坦方程并产生完全准确的引力波信号模型。因此，目前的分析技术包括使用不同的近似模型来比较观测结果(这些模型可以足够快地计算出来，以便使用)。然后使用这些波形模板之间的差异来检查与模型的近似相关的不确定性。而这个误差源决定了某些引力波参数的测量。最关键的挑战之一，也是这个项目的一个主要方向，涉及超越这个单一的点--模型误差的估计(例如，通过提供严格的边际化方法)。这项工作将导致对其他引力理论和中子星状态方程测量的新限制。这涉及开发一种使用准确、精确和有效的方法来观测引力波天文学的方法，以便在未来来自不断增长的全球探测器网络的观测中进行观测。

Bayesian parameter estimation and model selection methods have been essential to measure the properties of the binary-black-holes and of the binary-neutron-star detected with the gravitational-wave observations from the LIGO-Virgo network. Those techniques are a key component of the new field of gravitational-wave astrophysics. This project will improve existing methods to advance our understanding of the next observations.It is not currently possible to solve exactly Einstein's equations and produce perfectly accurate gravitational-wave signal models. So current analysis techniques involve comparing observational results using different approximate models (which can be computed quickly enough to be usable). The difference between such waveform templates is then used to check the uncertainties associated with the models' approximations. And this source of error dominates the measurement of certain gravitational-wave parameters. One of the most crucial challenges, and a principal direction of this project, involves moving beyond this single point-estimate of the model errors (by providing rigorous marginalisation methods for instance). This work will lead to enabling new constraints of alternative theories of gravity and measurements of neutron-star equation-of-state. This involves developing an using accurate, precise, and efficient methods for observational gravitational-wave astronomy on future observations from a growing worldwide network of detectors.