Localization of Binary Black-Hole Mergers with Known Inclination

Understand

The localization of stellar-mass binary black hole mergers using gravitational waves is critical in understanding the properties of the binaries' host galaxies, observing possible electromagnetic emission from the mergers, or using them as a cosmological distance ladder.

• The precision of this localization can be substantially increased with prior astrophysical information about the binary system.
• In particular, constraining the inclination of the binary can reduce the distance uncertainty of the source.
• Here we present the first realistic set of localizations for binary black hole mergers, including different prior constraints on the binaries' inclinations.