Accuracy Requirements: Assessing the Importance of First Post-Adiabatic Terms for Small-Mass-Ratio Binaries

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2310.08927
• Publication Date: 2023-01-01
• Authors: Ollie Burke; Gabriel Andres Pi...; Niels Warburton; Phillip Lynch; Lorenzo Speri; Chris Kavanagh; Barry Wardell; Adam Pound; Leanne Durkan; Jeremy Miller
• Keywords: Mass ratio

We investigate the impact of post-adiabatic (1PA) terms on parameter estimation for extreme and intermediate mass-ratio inspirals using state-of-the-art waveform models. Our analysis is first to employ Bayesian inference assess systematic errors 1PA waveforms. find that neglecting introduces significant biases (small) mass ratio $\epsilon \gtrsim 10^{-5}$ quasi circular orbits in Schwarzschild spacetime, which can be mitigated with resummed 3PN expressions at order. Moreover, we show secondary spin strongly correlated other intrinsic parameters, it not constrained \lesssim 10^{-5}$. Finally, highlight need addressing eccentric systematics small-mass-ratio regime, as they yield stronger than limit both extrinsic parameters.