Monte-Carlo and Bayesian techniques in gravitational wave burst data analysis

Abstract

Monte-Carlo simulations are used in the gravitational wave burst detection community to demonstrate and compare the properties of different search techniques. We note that every Monte-Carlo simulation has a corresponding optimal search technique according to both the non-Bayesian Neyman-Pearson criterion and the Bayesian approach, and that this optimal search technique is the Bayesian statistic. When practical, we recommend deriving the optimal statistic for a credible Monte-Carlo simulation, rather than testing ad hoc statistics against that simulation.