Understand
The novel data analysis challenges posed by the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) arise from the overwhelmingly large number of astrophysical sources in the measurement band and the density with which they are found in the data.
- Robust detection and characterization of the numerous gravitational wave sources in LISA data can not be done sequentially, but rather through a simultaneous global fit of a data model containing the full suite of astrophysical and instrumental features present in the data.
- While previous analyses have focused on individual source types in isolation, here we present the first demonstration of a LISA global fit analysis containing combined astrophysical populations.
- The prototype pipeline uses a blocked Metropolis Hastings algorithm to alternatingly fit to a population of ultra compact galactic binaries, known ``verification binaries'' already identified by electromagnetic observations, a population of massive black hole mergers, and an instrument noise model.