A generalized precession parameter $chi_mathrm{p}$ to interpret gravitational-wave data. (arXiv:2011.11948v2 [gr-qc] UPDATED)

A generalized precession parameter $chi_mathrm{p}$ to interpret gravitational-wave data. (arXiv:2011.11948v2 [gr-qc] UPDATED)
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/gr-qc/1/au:+Gerosa_D/0/1/0/all/0/1">Davide Gerosa</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/gr-qc/1/au:+Mould_M/0/1/0/all/0/1">Matthew Mould</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/gr-qc/1/au:+Gangardt_D/0/1/0/all/0/1">Daria Gangardt</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/gr-qc/1/au:+Schmidt_P/0/1/0/all/0/1">Patricia Schmidt</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/gr-qc/1/au:+Pratten_G/0/1/0/all/0/1">Geraint Pratten</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/gr-qc/1/au:+Thomas_L/0/1/0/all/0/1">Lucy M. Thomas</a>

Originally designed for waveform approximants, the effective precession
parameter $chi_mathrm{p}$ is the most commonly used quantity to characterize
spin-precession effects in gravitational-wave observations of black-hole binary
coalescences. We point out that the current definition of $chi_mathrm{p}$
retains some, but not all, variations taking place on the precession timescale.
We rectify this inconsistency and propose more general definitions that either
fully consider or fully average those oscillations. Our generalized parameter
$chi_mathrm{p}in[0,2]$ presents an exclusive region $chi_mathrm{p}>1$ that
can only be populated by binaries with two precessing spins. We apply our
prescriptions to current LIGO/Virgo events and find that posterior
distributions of $chi_mathrm{p}$ tend to show longer tails at larger values.
This appears to be a generic feature, implying that (i) current
$chi_mathrm{p}$ measurement errors might be underestimated, but also that
(ii) evidence for spin precession in current data might be stronger than
previously inferred. Among the gravitational-wave events released to date, that
which shows the most striking behavior is GW190521.

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