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arXiv · 1506.06590

Cosmological inference using only gravitational wave observations of binary neutron stars

Walter Del Pozzo·Tjonnie G. F. Li·Chris Messenger
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Abstract

[Abridged] This study presents the first Bayesian investigation of the accuracy with which the cosmological parameters can be measured using information coming \emph{only} from the gravitational wave observations of binary neutron star systems by Einstein Telescope. We find, by direct simulation of $10^3$ detections of binary neutron stars, that, within our simplifying assumptions, $H_0,\Omega_m,\Omega_\Lambda,w_0$ and $w_1$ can be measured at the $95\%$ level with an accuracy of $\sim 8\%,65\%,39\%,80\%$ and $90\%$, respectively. We also find, by extrapolation, that a measurement accuracy comparable with current measurements by Planck is possible if the number of gravitational wave events observed is $O(10^{6-7})$. We conclude that, while not competitive with electro-magnetic missions in terms of significant digits, gravitational wave alone are capable of providing a complementary determination of the dynamics of the Universe.

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Walter Del Pozzo, Tjonnie G. F. Li, Chris Messenger. 2015-06-22. Cosmological inference using only gravitational wave observations of binary neutron stars. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.95.043502

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