Systematic bias in LISA ringdown analysis due to waveform inaccuracy

Inaccurate modeling of gravitational-wave signals can introduce systematic biases in the inferred source parameters. As detector sensitivities improve and signals become louder, mitigating such waveform-induced systematics becomes increasingly important. In this work, we assess the systematic biases introduced by an incomplete description of the ringdown signal from massive black hole binaries in the LISA band. Specifically, we investigate the impact of mode truncation in the ringdown template. Using a reference waveform composed of 13 modes, we establish a mode hierarchy and determine the minimum number of modes required to avoid parameter biases across a wide range of LISA sources. For typical systems with masses $\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{6}--{10}^{7}{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ at redshifts $z\ensuremath{\sim}2--6$, we find that at least 3--6 modes are needed for accurate parameter estimation, while high signal-to-noise ratio events may need at least 10 modes. Our results are a window-insensitive lower bound on the minimum number of modes, as more modes may be needed depending on the choice of time-domain windowing of the postmerger signal.

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Publication Details

Journal
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Published
2025-11-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/86yd-x1sl
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.15
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article

Systematic bias in LISA ringdown analysis due to waveform inaccuracy

Lodovico Capuano, Chantal Pitte, Enrico Barausse, Adrien Kuntz et al.
1 citations
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
1.15
article

Systematic bias in LISA ringdown analysis due to waveform inaccuracy

Lodovico Capuano, Chantal Pitte, Enrico Barausse, Adrien Kuntz, Massimo Vaglio, Rohit S. Chandramouli
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Inaccurate modeling of gravitational-wave signals can introduce systematic biases in the inferred source parameters. As detector sensitivities improve and signals become louder, mitigating such waveform-induced systematics becomes increasingly important. In this work, we assess the systematic biases introduced by an incomplete description of the ringdown signal from massive black hole binaries in the LISA band. Specifically, we investigate the impact of mode truncation in the ringdown template. Using a reference waveform composed of 13 modes, we establish a mode hierarchy and determine the minimum number of modes required to avoid parameter biases across a wide range of LISA sources. For typical systems with masses $\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{6}--{10}^{7}{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ at redshifts $z\ensuremath{\sim}2--6$, we find that at least 3--6 modes are needed for accurate parameter estimation, while high signal-to-noise ratio events may need at least 10 modes. Our results are a window-insensitive lower bound on the minimum number of modes, as more modes may be needed depending on the choice of time-domain windowing of the postmerger signal.

Physical review. D/Physical review. D.Vol. 112(10)
Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (IT), University of Lisbon (PT), University of Trieste (IT), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Trieste (IT), Institute for Fundamental Physics of the Universe (IT)
Openalex Percentile: Top 15%
Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
1.15
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Systematic bias in LISA ringdown analysis due to waveform inaccuracy — Lodovico Capuano, Chantal Pitte, et al. · Physical review. D/Physical review. D. (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS