Analysis Framework for the Prompt Discovery of Compact Binary Mergers in Gravitational-wave Data

Understand

We describe a stream-based analysis pipeline to detect gravitational waves from the merger of binary neutron stars, binary black holes, and neutron-star-black-hole binaries within ~ 1 minute of the arrival of the merger signal at Earth.

• Such low-latency detection is crucial for the prompt response by electromagnetic facilities in order to observe any fading electromagnetic counterparts that might be produced by mergers involving at least one neutron star.
• Even for systems expected not to produce counterparts, low-latency analysis of the data is useful for deciding when not to point telescopes, and as feedback to observatory operations.
• Analysts using this pipeline were the first to identify GW151226, the second gravitational-wave event ever detected.