Gravitational Wave Standard Sirens Research Articles

Mitigating the Binary Viewing Angle Bias for Standard Sirens

The inconsistency between experiments in the measurements of the local Universe expansion rate, the Hubble constant, suggests unknown systematics in the existing experiments or new physics. Gravitational-wave standard sirens, a method to independently provide direct measurements of the Hubble constant, have the potential to address this tension. Before that, it is critical to ensure there are no substantial systematics in the standard siren method. A significant systematic has been identified when the viewing angle of the gravitational-wave sources, the compact binary coalescences, was inferred inaccurately from electromagnetic observations of the sources. Such a systematic has led to a more than 10% discrepancy in the standard siren Hubble constant measurements with the observations of binary neutron star merger, GW170817. In this Letter, we develop a new formalism to infer and mitigate this systematic. We demonstrate that the systematic uncertainty of the Hubble constant measurements can be reduced to a level smaller than their statistical uncertainty with 5, 10, and 20 binary neutron star merger observations. We show that our formalism successfully reduces the systematics even if the shape of the biased viewing angle distribution does not follow precisely the model we choose. Our formalism ensures unbiased standard siren Hubble constant measurements when the binary viewing angles are inferred from electromagnetic observations.

A comprehensive forecast for cosmological parameter estimation using joint observations of gravitational waves and short γ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma $$\\end{document}-ray bursts

In the third-generation (3G) gravitational-wave (GW) detector era, multi-messenger GW observation for binary neutron star (BNS) merger events can exert great impacts on exploring cosmic expansion history. In this work, we comprehensively explore the potential of 3G GW standard siren observations in cosmological parameter estimations by considering 3G GW detectors and the future short γ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma $$\\end{document}-ray burst (GRB) detector THESEUS-like telescope joint observations. Based on a 10-year observation of different detection strategies, we predict that the numbers of detectable GW-GRB events are 334–674 with the redshifts z<3.5\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$z<3.5$$\\end{document} and the inclination angles ι<15∘\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\iota <15^{\\circ }$$\\end{document}. For the cosmological analysis, we consider the Λ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\Lambda $$\\end{document}CDM, wCDM, w0wa\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$w_0w_a$$\\end{document}CDM, and interacting dark energy (IDE) models. We find that GW can tightly constrain the Hubble constant with precision of 0.345–0.065%, but does not perform well in constraining other cosmological parameters. Fortunately, GW detection could effectively break the cosmological parameter degeneracies generated by the mainstream EM observations, CMB + BAO + SN (CBS). When combining mock GW data with CBS data, CBS + GW can tightly constrain the equation of state of dark energy w with a precision of 1.26%, close to the standard of precision cosmology. Meanwhile, the addition of GW to CBS could improve constraints on cosmological parameters by 34.2–94.9%. In conclusion, GW standard siren observations from 3G GW detectors could play a crucial role in helping solve the Hubble tension and probe the fundamental nature of dark energy.

Prospects for weighing neutrinos in interacting dark energy models using joint observations of gravitational waves and γ-ray bursts* *Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (12305069, 11947022, 11975072, 11875102, 11835009), the National SKA Program of China (2022SKA0110200, 2022SKA0110203), the National 111 Project (B16009), and the Program of the Education Department of Liaoning Province, China (JYTMS20231695)

Cosmological observations can be used to weigh neutrinos, but this method is model-dependent, with results relying on the cosmological model considered. If we consider interactions between dark energy and dark matter, the neutrino mass constraints differ from those derived under the standard model. On the contrary, gravitational wave (GW) standard siren observations can measure absolute cosmological distances, helping to break parameter degeneracies inherent in traditional cosmological observations, thereby improving constraints on neutrino mass. This paper examines the constraints on neutrino mass within interacting dark energy (IDE) models and explores how future GW standard siren observations could enhance these results. For multi-messenger GW observations, we consider the joint observations of binary neutron star mergers by third-generation ground-based GW detectors and short γ-ray burst observations by missions similar to the THESEUS satellite project. Using current cosmological observations (CMB+BAO+SN), we obtain an upper limit on the neutrino mass in the IDE models of 0.15 (or 0.16) eV. With the inclusion of GW data, the upper limit on the neutrino mass improves to 0.14 eV. This indicates that in the context of IDE models, the improvement in neutrino mass constraints from GW observations is relatively limited. However, GW observations significantly enhance the constraints on other cosmological parameters, such as matter density parameter, the Hubble constant, and coupling strength between dark energy and dark matter.

Robust test of general relativity at the galactic scales by combining strong lensing systems and gravitational wave standard sirens

Robust test of general relativity at the galactic scales by combining strong lensing systems and gravitational wave standard sirens

Distinguishing ΛCDM from Evolving Dark Energy with Om Two-point Statistics: Implications from the Space-borne Gravitational-wave Detector

The Omh 2(z i , z j ) two-point diagnostics was proposed as a litmus test of the ΛCDM model, and measurements of the cosmic expansion rate H(z) have been extensively used to perform this test. The results obtained so far suggested a tension between observations and predictions of the ΛCDM model. However, the data set of H(z) direct measurements from cosmic chronometers and baryon acoustic oscillations was quite limited. This motivated us to study the performance of this test on a larger sample obtained in an alternative way. In this paper, we propose that gravitational-wave (GW) standard sirens could provide large samples of H(z) measurements in the redshift range of 0 < z < 5, based on the measurements of the dipole anisotropy of luminosity distance arising from the matter inhomogeneities of the large-scale structure and the local motion of the observer. We discuss the effectiveness of our method in the context of the space-borne DECi-herz Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory, based on a comprehensive H(z) simulated data set from binary neutron star merger systems. Our results indicate that in the GW domain, the Omh 2(z i , z j ) two-point diagnostics could effectively distinguish whether ΛCDM is the best description of our Universe. We also discuss the potential of our methodology in determining possible evidence for dark energy evolution, focusing on its performance on the constant and redshift-dependent dark energy equation of state.

Study of systematics on the cosmological inference of the Hubble constant from gravitational wave standard sirens

Study of systematics on the cosmological inference of the Hubble constant from gravitational wave standard sirens

Testing the spatial geometry of the Universe with TianQin: Prospect of using supermassive black hole binaries

Context. The determination of the spatial geometry of the Universe plays an important role in modern cosmology. Any deviation from the cosmic curvature ΩK = 0 would have a profound impact on the primordial inflation paradigm and fundamental physics. Aims. In this paper, we carry out a systematic study of the prospect of measuring the cosmic curvature with the inspiral signal of supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs) that could be detected with TianQin. Methods. The study is based on a method that is independent of cosmological models. It extended the application of gravitational wave (GW) standard sirens in cosmology. By comparing the distances from future simulated GW events and simulated H(z) data, we evaluated whether TianQin produced robust constraints on the cosmic curvature parameter Ωk. More specifically, we considered three-year to ten-year observations of supermassive black hole binaries with total masses ranging from 103 M⊙ to 107 M⊙. Results. Our results show that in the future, with the synergy of ten-year high-quality observations, we can tightly constrain the curvature parameter at the level of 1σ Ωk = −0.002 ± 0.061. Moreover, our findings indicate that the total mass of SMBHB does influence the estimation of cosmic curvature, as implied by the analysis performed on different subsamples of gravitational wave data. Conclusions. Therefore, TianQin is expected to provide a more powerful and competitive probe of the spatial geometry of the Universe, compared to future spaced-based detectors such as DECIGO.

Prospects for Probing the Interaction between Dark Energy and Dark Matter Using Gravitational-wave Dark Sirens with Neutron Star Tidal Deformation

Gravitational wave (GW) standard siren observations provide a rather useful tool to explore the evolution of the Universe. In this work, we wish to investigate whether dark sirens with neutron star (NS) deformation from third-generation GW detectors could help probe the interaction between dark energy and dark matter. We simulate the GW dark sirens of four detection strategies based on 3 yr observation and consider four phenomenological interacting dark energy (IDE) models to perform cosmological analysis. We find that GW dark sirens could provide tight constraints on Ωm and H 0 in the four IDE models but do not perform well in constraining the dimensionless coupling parameter β in models of the interaction proportional to the energy density of cold dark matter. Nevertheless, the parameter degeneracy orientations of cosmic microwave background (CMB) and GW are almost orthogonal, and thus, the combination of them could effectively break cosmological parameter degeneracies, with the constraint errors of β being 0.00068–0.018. In addition, we choose three typical equations of state (EoSs) of an NS, i.e., SLy, MPA1, and MS1, to investigate the effect of an NS’s EoS on cosmological analysis. The stiffer EoS could give tighter constraints than the softer EoS. Nonetheless, the combination of CMB and GW dark sirens (using different EoSs of an NS) shows basically the same constraint results of cosmological parameters. We conclude that the dark sirens from 3G GW detectors would play a crucial role in helping probe the interaction between dark energy and dark matter, and the CMB+GW results are basically not affected by the EoS of an NS.

Constraints on Coasting Cosmological Models from Gravitational-wave Standard Sirens

We present the first test of coasting cosmological models with gravitational-wave (GW) standard sirens observed in the first three observing runs of the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA detector network. We apply the statistical galaxy catalog method adapted to coasting cosmologies and infer constraints on the H 0 Hubble constant for the three fixed values of the curvature parameter k=−1,0,+1 in H02c−2 units. The maximum posteriors and 68.3% highest density intervals we obtained from a combined analysis of 46 dark siren detections and a single bright siren detection are H0=68.1−5.6+8.5,67.5−5.2+8.3,67.1−5.8+6.6kms−1Mpc−1 , respectively. All our constraints on H 0 are consistent within 1σ with the H 0 measured with the differential age method, which provides a constraint on H 0 in coasting cosmologies independently from k. Our results constrain all cosmological models with a(t) ∝ t linear expansion in the luminosity distance and redshift range of the 47 LIGO–Virgo detections, i.e., d L ≲ 5Gpc and z ≲ 0.8, which practically include all (both strictly linear and quasi-linear) models in the coasting model family. As we have found, the coasting models and the Lambda cold dark matter (or ΛCDM) model fit equally well to the applied set of GW detections.

Evidence of dynamical dark energy in a non-flat universe: current and future observations

We investigate the dark energy phenomenology in an extended parameter space where we allow the curvature density of our universe as a free-to-vary parameter. The inclusion of the curvature density parameter is motivated from the recently released observational evidences indicating the closed universe model at many standard deviations. Here we assume that the dark energy equation-of-state follows the PADE approximation, a generalized parametrization that may recover a variety of existing dark energy models. Considering three distinct PADE parametrizations, labeled as PADE-I, SPADE-I and PADE-II, we first constrain the cosmological scenarios driven by them using the joint analyses of a series of recently available cosmological probes, namely, Pantheon sample of Supernovae Type Ia, baryon acoustic oscillations, big bang nucleosynthesis, Hubble parameter measurements from cosmic chronometers, cosmic microwave background distance priors from Planck 2018 and then we include the future Gravitational Waves standard sirens (GWSS) data from the Einstein telescope with the combined analyses of these current cosmological probes. We find that the current cosmological probes indicate a very strong evidence of a dynamical dark energy at more than 99% C.L. in both PADE-I, and PADE-II, but no significant evidence for the non-flat universe is found in any of these parametrizations. Interestingly, when the future GWSS data from the Einstein telescope are included with the standard cosmological probes an evidence of a non-flat universe is found in all three parametrizations together with a very strong preference of a dynamical dark energy at more than 99% C.L. in both PADE-I, and PADE-II. Although from the information criteria analysis, namely, AIC, BIC, DIC, the non-flat Λ-Cold Dark Matter model remains the best choice, however, in the light of DIC, PADE parametrizations are still appealing.

Forecasts analysis on varying-[formula omitted] theories from gravitational wave standard sirens

Motivated by future gravitational waves observations, we perform forecasts analysis to constrain a possible time variation of the fine structure constant (α) within the context of the so-called runaway dilaton model. For this purpose, some gravitational-wave standard sirens mock data within the perspective of Einstein Telescope and LISA mission were considered jointly with current strong gravitational lensing systems observations. We find that future standard sirens observations can also play an important role in the search for possible variations of α within the methodology presented in this work.

Biases in velocity reconstruction: investigating the effects on growth rate and expansion measurements in the local universe

ABSTRACT The local galaxy peculiar velocity field can be reconstructed from the surrounding distribution of large-scale structure and plays an important role in calibrating cosmic growth and expansion measurements. In this paper, we investigate the effect of the stochasticity of these velocity reconstructions on the statistical and systematic errors in cosmological inferences. By introducing a simple statistical model between the measured and theoretical velocities, whose terms we calibrate from linear theory, we derive the bias in the model velocity. We then use lognormal realizations to explore the potential impact of this bias when using a cosmic flow model to measure the growth rate of structure, and to sharpen expansion rate measurements from host galaxies for gravitational wave standard sirens with electromagnetic counterparts. Although our illustrative study does not contain fully realistic observational effects, we demonstrate that in some scenarios these corrections are significant and result in a measurable improvement in determinations of the Hubble constant compared to standard forecasts.

Joint population and cosmological properties inference with gravitational waves standard sirens and galaxy surveys

Joint population and cosmological properties inference with gravitational waves standard sirens and galaxy surveys

Cosmology in holographic non-minimal derivative coupling theory: Constraints from inflation and variation of gravitational constant

We consider a cosmological model of non-minimal derivative coupling (NMDC) to gravity with holographic effect from Bekenstein–Hawking entropy using Hubble horizon IR cutoff. Holographic parameter c is considered constant with value in a range, 0≤c<1. The NMDC effect is considered either as modification in kinetic scalar field or in gravitational constant. The NMDC effect allows gravitational constant to be time-varying. Since the NMDC effect is cosmological, definition of holographic density should include time-varying part of the gravitational constant. The NMDC part reduces strength of gravitational constant for κ>0 and opposite for κ<0. The holographic part enhances gravitational strength. Slow-roll parameters are derived. We use spectral index and tensor-to-scalar ratio to test the model against CMB constraint. Number of e-folding is chosen to be N≥60. Power-law scalar potentials, V=V0ϕn with n=2,4, and exponential potential, V=V0exp(−βϕ) are considered. Combined parametric plots of κ and ϕ show that the allowed regions of the power spectrum index and of the tensor-to-scalar ratio are not overlapping. NMDC inflation is ruled out and the holographic NMDC inflation is also ruled out for 0<c<1. NMDC significantly changes major anatomy of the dynamics, i.e. it gives new late-time attractor trajectories in acceleration regions. The holographic part clearly affects pattern of trajectories. However, for the holographic part to affect shape of the acceleration region, the NMDC field must be in presence. To constrain the model at late time, variation of gravitational constant is considered. Gravitational-wave standard sirens and supernovae data give a constraint, Ġ/G|t0≲3×10−12year−1 (Zhao et al., 2018) which, for this model, results in 10−12year−1≳−κϕ̇ϕ̈/MP2. Positive κ is favored and greater c2 results in lifting up lower bound of κ.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Catalog Approach for Dark Siren Gravitational-wave Cosmology

We outline the “dark siren” galaxy catalog method for cosmological inference using gravitational wave (GW) standard sirens, clarifying some common misconceptions in the implementation of this method. When a confident transient electromagnetic counterpart to a GW event is unavailable, the identification of a unique host galaxy is in general challenging. Instead, as originally proposed by Schutz, one can consult a galaxy catalog and implement a dark siren statistical approach incorporating all potential host galaxies within the localization volume. Trott & Huterer recently claimed that this approach results in a biased estimate of the Hubble constant, H 0, when implemented on mock data, even if optimistic assumptions are made. We demonstrate explicitly that, as previously shown by multiple independent groups, the dark siren statistical method leads to an unbiased posterior when the method is applied to the data correctly. We highlight common sources of error possible to make in the generation of mock data and implementation of the statistical framework, including the mismodeling of selection effects and inconsistent implementations of the Bayesian framework, which can lead to a spurious bias.

A path to precision cosmology: synergy between four promising late-universe cosmological probes

In the next decades, it is necessary to forge new late-universe cosmological probes to precisely measure the Hubble constant and the equation of state of dark energy simultaneously. In this work, we show that the four novel late-universe cosmological probes, 21 cm intensity mapping (IM), fast radio burst (FRB), gravitational wave (GW) standard siren, and strong gravitational lensing (SGL), are expected to be forged into useful tools in solving the Hubble tension and exploring dark energy. We propose that the synergy of them is rather important in cosmology. We simulate the 21 cm IM, FRB, GW, and SGL data based on the hypothetical observations of the Hydrogen Intensity and Real-time Analysis eXperiment, the Square Kilometre Array, the Einstein Telescope, and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, respectively. We find that the four probes have different parameter dependencies in cosmological constraints, so any combination of them can break the degeneracies and thus significantly improve the constraint precision. The joint 21 cm IM+FRB+GW+SGL data can provide the constraint errors of σ(Ωm) = 0.0022 and σ(H 0) = 0.16 km s-1 Mpc-1 in the ΛCDM model, which meet the standard of precision cosmology, i.e., the constraint precision of parameters is better than 1%. In addition, the joint data give σ(w) = 0.020 in the wCDM model, and σ(w 0) = 0.066 and σ(wa ) = 0.25 in the w 0 wa CDM model, which are better than the constraints obtained by the CMB+BAO+SN data. We show that the synergy between the four late-universe cosmological probes has magnificent prospects.

Reducing the impact of weak-lensing errors on gravitational-wave standard sirens

ABSTRACT The mergers of supermassive black hole binaries can serve as standard sirens: the gravitational-wave (GW) analogue of standard candles. The upcoming space-borne GW detectors will be able to discover such systems and estimate their luminosity distances precisely. Unfortunately, weak gravitational lensing can induce significant errors in the measured distance of these standard sirens at high redshift, severely limiting their usefulness as precise distance probes. The uncertainty due to weak lensing can be reduced if the lensing magnification of the siren can be estimated independently, a procedure called ‘delensing’. With the help of up-to-date numerical simulations, here we investigate how much the weak-lensing errors can be reduced using convergence maps reconstructed from shear measurements. We also evaluate the impact of delensing on cosmological parameter estimation with bright standard sirens. We find that the weak-lensing errors for sirens at zs = 2.9 can be reduced by about a factor of two on average, but to achieve this would require expensive ultra-deep-field observations for every siren. Such an approach is likely to be practical in only limited cases, and the reduction in the weak-lensing error is therefore likely to be insufficient to significantly improve the cosmological parameter estimation. We conclude that performing delensing corrections is unlikely to be worthwhile, in contrast to the more positive expectations presented in previous studies. For delensing to become more practicable and useful in the future will require significant improvements in the resolution/depth of weak-lensing surveys and/or the methods to reconstruct convergence maps from these surveys.

Prospects for constraining interacting dark energy models from gravitational wave and gamma ray burst joint observation

With the measurement of the electromagnetic (EM) counterpart, a gravitational wave (GW) event could be treated as a standard siren. As a novel cosmological probe, GW standard sirens will bring significant implications for cosmology. In this paper, by considering the coincident detections of GW and associated γ ray burst (GRB), we find that only about 400 GW bright standard sirens from binary neutron star mergers could be detected in a 10-year observation of the Einstein Telescope and the THESEUS satellite mission. Based on this mock sample, we investigate the implications of GW standard sirens on the interaction between dark energy and dark matter. In our analysis, four viable interacting dark energy (IDE) models, with interaction forms Q = 3βHρ de and Q = Q = 3βHρ c, are considered. Compared with the traditional EM observational data such as CMB, BAO, and SN Ia, the combination of both GW and EM observations could effectively break the degeneracies between different cosmological parameters and provide more stringent cosmological fits. We find that the GW data could play a more important role for determining the interaction in the models with Q = 3βHρ c, compared with the models with Q = 3βHρ de. We also show that constraining IDE models with mock GW data based on different fiducial H 0 values yield different results, indicating that accurate determination of H 0 is significant for exploring the interaction between dark energy and dark matter.

Joint constraints on cosmological parameters using future multi-band gravitational wave standard siren observations* *Supported by the National SKA Program of China (2022SKA0110200, 2022SKA0110203) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (11975072, 11875102, 11835009)

Gravitational waves (GWs) from compact binary coalescences can be used as standard sirens to explore the cosmic expansion history. In the next decades, it is anticipated that we could obtain the multi-band GW standard siren data (from nanohertz to a few hundred hertz), which are expected to play an important role in cosmological parameter estimation. In this work, we provide, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, joint constraints on cosmological parameters using the future multi-band GW standard siren observations. We simulate the multi-band GW standard sirens based on the SKA-era pulsar timing array (PTA), Taiji observatory, and Cosmic Explorer (CE) to perform cosmological analysis. In the ΛCDM model, we find that the joint PTA+Taiji+CE data could provide a tight constraint on the Hubble constant with a precision. Moreover, PTA+Taiji+CE could break the cosmological parameter degeneracies generated by CMB, especially in the dynamical dark energy models. When combining the PTA+Taiji+CE data with the CMB data, the constraint precisions of and are and , respectively, meeting the standard of precision cosmology. The joint CMB+PTA+Taiji+CE data give in the wCDM model and and in the CDM model, which are comparable with or close to the latest constraint results by CMB+BAO+SN. In conclusion, the future multi-band GW observations are expected to be used for exploring the nature of dark energy and measuring the Hubble constant.

Null test for cosmic curvature using Gaussian process* *Supported by the National SKA Program of China (2022SKA0110200, 2022SKA0110203) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (11975072, 11835009, 11875102)

The cosmic curvature , which determines the spatial geometry of the universe, is an important parameter in modern cosmology. Any deviation from would have a profound impact on the primordial inflation paradigm and fundamental physics. In this work, we adopt a cosmological model-independent method to test whether deviates from zero. We use the Gaussian process to reconstruct the reduced Hubble parameter and the derivative of the distance from observational data and then determine with a null test relation. The cosmic chronometer (CC) Hubble data, baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) Hubble data, and supernovae Pantheon sample are considered. Our result is consistent with a spatially flat universe within the domain of reconstruction , at the confidence level. In the redshift interval , the result favors a flat universe, while at , it tends to favor a closed universe. In this sense, there is still a possibility for a closed universe. We also carry out the null test of the cosmic curvature at using the simulated gravitational wave standard sirens, CC+BAO, and redshift drift Hubble data. The result indicates that in the future, with the synergy of multiple high-quality observations, we can tightly constrain the spatial geometry or exclude the flat universe.