A model-independent precision test of general relativity using bright standard sirens from ongoing and upcoming detectors

Abstract

ABSTRACT Gravitational waves (GWs) provide a new avenue to test Einstein’s General Relativity (GR) using the ongoing and upcoming GW detectors by measuring the redshift evolution of the effective Planck mass proposed by several modified theories of gravity. We propose a model-independent, data-driven approach to measure any deviation from GR in the GW propagation effect by combining multimessenger observations of GW sources accompanied by EM counterparts, commonly known as bright sirens [Binary Neutron Star (BNS) and Neutron Star Black Hole systems (NSBH)]. We show that by combining the GW luminosity distance measurements from bright sirens with the Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) measurements derived from galaxy clustering, and the sound horizon measurements from the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), we can make a data-driven reconstruction of deviation of the variation of the effective Planck mass (jointly with the Hubble constant) as a function of cosmic redshift. Using this technique, we achieve a precise measurement of GR with redshift (z) with a precision of approximately 7.9 per cent for BNSs at redshift z = 0.075 and 10 per cent for NSBHs at redshift z = 0.225 with 5 yr of observation from LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA network of detectors. Employing Cosmic Explorer and Einstein Telescope for just 1 yr yields the best precision of about 1.62 per cent for BNSs and 2 per cent for NSBHs at redshift z = 0.5 on the evolution of the frictional term, and a similar precision up to z = 1. This measurement can discover potential deviation from any kind of model that impacts GW propagation with ongoing and upcoming observations.