PIRSA:25110080

Gravitational wave observations as astrophysical probes

Vijaykumar, A. (2025). Gravitational wave observations as astrophysical probes. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/25110080

Vijaykumar, Aditya. Gravitational wave observations as astrophysical probes. Perimeter Institute, Nov. 06, 2025, https://pirsa.org/25110080 

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:25110080,
            doi = {10.48660/25110080},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/25110080},
            author = {Vijaykumar, Aditya},
            keywords = {Strong Gravity},
            language = {en},
            title = {Gravitational wave observations as astrophysical probes},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2025},
            month = {nov},
            note = {PIRSA:25110080 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }

Aditya Vijaykumar CITA / University of Toronto

Talk numberPIRSA:25110080
DOI10.48660/25110080
Collection
Talk Type Scientific Series
Subject

Abstract

In the ten years since the first GW detection, the LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA detectors have amassed around 200 compact binary mergers. In this talk, I will describe how these compact binaries can be used as astrophysical probes. I will show how we extract population properties from GW data, emphasizing a defining feature of GW astronomy: the ability to accurately and precisely model selection effects (the GW analogue of the Malmquist bias). I will then present what we have learned so far from the current public catalog (GWTC-4.0) about the demographics and formation channels of compact binaries. If time permits, I will also highlight how subtle signatures of center-of-mass motion in the GW signal can reveal the environments in which these binaries live.