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General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, gr-qc
Abstract:
We describe the methodology and novel techniques used to construct a set of
waveforms, or template bank, applicable to searches for compact binary
coalescences in Advanced LIGO's second observing run. This template bank is
suitable for observing systems composed of two neutron stars, two black holes,
or a neutron star and a black hole. The Post-Newtonian formulation is used to
model waveforms with total mass less than 4 $M_{\odot}$ and the most recent
effective-one-body model, calibrated to numerical relativity to include the
merger and ringdown, is used for total masses greater than 4 $M_{\odot}$. The
effects of spin precession, matter, orbital eccentricity and radiation modes
beyond the quadrupole are neglected. In contrast to the template bank used to
search for compact binary mergers in Advanced LIGO's first observing run, here
we are including binary-black-hole systems with total mass up to several
hundreds of solar masses, thereby improving the ability to observe such
systems. We introduce a technique to vary the starting frequency of waveform
filters so that our bank can simultaneously contain binary-neutron-star and
high-mass binary-black hole waveforms. We also introduce a lower-bound on the
filter waveform length, to exclude very short-duration, high-mass templates
whose sensitivity is strongly reduced by the characteristics and performance of
the interferometers.
