GW150914 Black Hole Merger Gravitational Wave Parameters Estimation
Project by Polygence alum Shalini
Project's result
I wrote a research paper that I published on Zenodo, and I used that and my Polygence Symposium presentation on YouTube to boost my college applications.
They started it from zero. Are you ready to level up with us?
Summary
Energetic astrophysical events such as black hole mergers generate gravitational waves that are detectable by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO). This study analyzes the gravitational wave data of the black hole merger event GW150914 from LIGO to estimate parameters: chirp mass, mass ratio, individual black hole masses, luminosity distance, and geocentric time. Using the Bayesian inference and the Markow Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, four of the twelve event parameters were sampled. The inferred values align with those reported in official LIGO analyses, demonstrating that simplified Bayesian sampling can reasonably infer core merger properties using open-source gravitational wave data.
Husni
Polygence mentor
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Subjects
Computer Science, Physics, Quantitative
Expertise
cosmology, image processing, machine learning, data science, dark energy, gravitational waves
Shalini
Student
Hi! My name is Shalini, and my project is a research paper on the GW150914 black hole merger, focusing on estimating gravitational wave parameters. I chose this topic because I've always been interested in space, and I wanted to see if a career in space research is something I would like to pursue. I'm currently working to get my paper published in a student journal!
Graduation Year
2026
Project review
“My project was an incredible learning experience. It allowed me to explore two topics I'm passionate about—gravitational waves and black holes—and create a tangible product from what I learnt. It was also was my first experience with research, making it both challenging and rewarding, and it sparked an interest in pursuing more research projects in the future.”
About my mentor
“Working with my mentor, Husni, was a great experience! He explains complex topics in a clear and digestible manner which allowed for me to understand concepts really well and write a research paper, something I wouldn’t have been able to do without his help. He is very patient and knowledgeable, and he provided me with guidance when I needed it.”
Check out their profile