Bayesian inference on EMRI signals using low frequency approximations

• Published in: Classical and quantum gravity 2012-07, Vol.29 (14), p.145014-18
• Main Authors: Ali, Asad, Christensen, Nelson, Meyer, Renate, Röver, Christian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Bayesian analysis; Bayesian inference; Computer simulation; EMRIs; Exact sciences and technology; General relativity and gravitation; GWs; Inference; LISA; Low frequencies; Monte Carlo methods; parallel tempering MCMC; Physics; Quantum gravity; Searching
• ISSN: 0264-9381; 1361-6382
• DOI: 10.1088/0264-9381/29/14/145014

Extreme mass ratio inspirals (EMRIs) are thought to be one of the most exciting gravitational wave sources to be detected with LISA. Due to their complicated nature and weak amplitudes the detection and parameter estimation of such sources is a challenging task. In this paper we present a statistical methodology based on Bayesian inference in which the estimation of parameters is carried out by advanced Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms such as parallel tempering MCMC. We analysed high and medium mass EMRI systems that fall well inside the low frequency range of LISA. In the context of the Mock LISA Data Challenges, our investigation and results are also the first instance in which a fully Markovian algorithm is applied for EMRI searches. Results show that our algorithm worked well in recovering EMRI signals from different (simulated) LISA data sets having single and multiple EMRI sources and holds great promise for posterior computation under more realistic conditions. The search and estimation methods presented in this paper are general in their nature, and can be applied in any other scenario such as AdLIGO, AdVIRGO and Einstein Telescope with their respective response functions.