Prospects for reconstructing the gravitational-wave signals from core-collapse supernovae with Advanced LIGO-Virgo and the BayesWave algorithm

Understand

Our current understanding of the core-collapse supernova explosion mechanism is incomplete, with multiple viable models for how the initial shock wave might be energized enough to lead to a successful explosion.

• Detection of a gravitational-wave signal emitted in the initial few seconds after stellar core-collapse would provide unique and crucial insight into this process.
• With the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors expected to approach their design sensitivities soon, we could potentially detect this signal from a supernova within our galaxy.
• In anticipation of such a scenario, we study how well the BayesWave algorithm can recover the gravitational-wave signal from core-collapse supernova models in simulated advanced detector noise, and optimize its ability to accurately reconstruct the signal waveforms.