In this dissertation we study gravitational-wave searches for
binary neutron star and neutron star - black hole coalescences.
We determine the accuracy of post-Newtonian approximations as gravitational-wave
templates in matched-filter based searches for NSBH mergers.
We test a geometric method to generate template banks for BNS and NSBH mergers where
the components have intrinsic spin, and estimate the sensitivity to
astrophysical sources of searches that use these banks during Advanced LIGO.
We explore simplifications and optimizations to the search pipeline used
during S6/VSR2,3 gravitational-wave searches. We investigate methods for regenerating
template banks as the noise behavior of a detector changes over time. We further
investigate changes to the algorithm for determining coincidence between
candidates from multiple-detectors.
Finally, we develop a focused search for binary neutron stars, and test improvements
to its configuration using LIGO detector data from the most recent science
run.
","abstract_html":"<p>In this dissertation we study gravitational-wave searches for </p> <p>binary neutron star and neutron star - black hole coalescences. </p> <p>We determine the accuracy of post-Newtonian approximations as gravitational-wave</p> <p>templates in matched-filter based searches for NSBH mergers.</p> <p>We test a geometric method to generate template banks for BNS and NSBH mergers where</p> <p>the components have intrinsic spin, and estimate the sensitivity to</p> <p>astrophysical sources of searches that use these banks during Advanced LIGO.</p> <p>We explore simplifications and optimizations to the search pipeline used </p> <p>during S6/VSR2,3 gravitational-wave searches. We investigate methods for regenerating</p> <p>template banks as the noise behavior of a detector changes over time. We further</p> <p>investigate changes to the algorithm for determining coincidence between</p> <p>candidates from multiple-detectors.</p> <p>Finally, we develop a focused search for binary neutron stars, and test improvements</p> <p>to its configuration using LIGO detector data from the most recent science</p> <p>run.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Nitz, Alexander Harvey"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Physics","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Duncan A. Brown"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:55:06Z","subjects":["black hole","gravititational waves","LIGO","neutron star","spin","Physical Sciences and Mathematics"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://surface.syr.edu/etd/316","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Duncan A. Brown"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Nitz, Alexander Harvey"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Physics"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["black hole","gravititational waves","LIGO","neutron star","spin","Physical Sciences and Mathematics"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://surface.syr.edu/etd/316"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["In this dissertation we study gravitational-wave searches for
binary neutron star and neutron star - black hole coalescences.
We determine the accuracy of post-Newtonian approximations as gravitational-wave
templates in matched-filter based searches for NSBH mergers.
We test a geometric method to generate template banks for BNS and NSBH mergers where
the components have intrinsic spin, and estimate the sensitivity to
astrophysical sources of searches that use these banks during Advanced LIGO.
We explore simplifications and optimizations to the search pipeline used
during S6/VSR2,3 gravitational-wave searches. We investigate methods for regenerating
template banks as the noise behavior of a detector changes over time. We further
investigate changes to the algorithm for determining coincidence between
candidates from multiple-detectors.
Finally, we develop a focused search for binary neutron stars, and test improvements
to its configuration using LIGO detector data from the most recent science
run.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["THE EFFECT OF COMPACT OBJECT SPIN ON THE SEARCH FOR GRAVITATIONAL WAVES FROM BINARY NEUTRON STAR AND NEUTRON STAR-BLACK HOLE MERGERS"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Duncan A. Brown"],"dc:creator":["Nitz, Alexander Harvey"],"dc:description.abstract":["In this dissertation we study gravitational-wave searches for
binary neutron star and neutron star - black hole coalescences.
We determine the accuracy of post-Newtonian approximations as gravitational-wave
templates in matched-filter based searches for NSBH mergers.
We test a geometric method to generate template banks for BNS and NSBH mergers where
the components have intrinsic spin, and estimate the sensitivity to
astrophysical sources of searches that use these banks during Advanced LIGO.
We explore simplifications and optimizations to the search pipeline used
during S6/VSR2,3 gravitational-wave searches. We investigate methods for regenerating
template banks as the noise behavior of a detector changes over time. We further
investigate changes to the algorithm for determining coincidence between
candidates from multiple-detectors.
Finally, we develop a focused search for binary neutron stars, and test improvements
to its configuration using LIGO detector data from the most recent science
run.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://surface.syr.edu/etd/316"],"dc:subject":["black hole","gravititational waves","LIGO","neutron star","spin","Physical Sciences and Mathematics"],"dc:title":["THE EFFECT OF COMPACT OBJECT SPIN ON THE SEARCH FOR GRAVITATIONAL WAVES FROM BINARY NEUTRON STAR AND NEUTRON STAR-BLACK HOLE MERGERS"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Physics"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:55:06Z"}