## [1108.1317] Precision measurement of the Hubble constant using gravitational waves

Authors: Walter Del Pozzo

Date: 5 Aug 2011

Abstract: The precise measurement of the Hubble constant $H_0$ is one of the foundations of the current cosmological paradigm. Due to correlations between $H_0$ and the remaining cosmological parameters, a precise measurement of $H_0$ is critical in view of future high redshift surveys. Second generation ground-based laser interferometers are expected to deliver a wealth of gravitational waves (GW) events from coalescing compact binaries up to a redshift of about 0.3. Being free of the systematics affecting electromagnetic measurements, GW offer the possibility of an independent measurement of $H_0$ with great accuracy. This \emph{Letter} presents a general method based on Bayesian inference aimed at estimating the value of the cosmological parameters for any GW event. In contrast to earlier work, this framework does not require the precise identification of the putative optical counterpart, but it considers all the potential galaxy hosts consistent with the recovered sky position and distance posterior distributions. When applied to the worldwide network of second generation interferometers, 50 GW events will yield a measurement of $H_0$ with an uncertainty of few percent.

#### Aug 08, 2011

1108.1317 (/preprints)
2011-08-08, 09:17