Fast localization of coalescing binaries with a heterogeneous network of advanced gravitational wave detectors

Abstract

We present the expected performance regarding fast sky localization of coalescing binaries with a network of three gravitational wave detectors having heterogeneous sensitivities, such as the LIGO-Virgo network. A hierarchical approach can be used in order to make an effective use of information from the least sensitive detector. In this approach, the presence of an event seen in coincidence in the two more sensitive detectors triggers a focused search in the data of the third, less sensitive, detector with a lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) threshold. We investigate the benefit for sky localization that can be expected in such an approach, using simulated data and signals. We find that as the sensitivity of Virgo approaches one third of the LIGO sensitivity, the accuracy and precision of the localization can be improved by about a factor 3 when Virgo data are searched with an SNR threshold around 3.5.