Abstract. Templates used in the search for binary black holes and neutron stars in gravitational wave interferometer data have to be computed on-line since the computational storage and retrieval costs for a template bank would be too expensive. The conventional dimensionless variable T = (c³/Gm)t, where m is the total mass of a binary, in the time domain and a not-so-conventional velocity-like variable v = (πGmf)^1/3 in the Fourier domain, render the phasing of the waves independent of the total mass of the system enabling the construction of mother templates that depend only on the mass ratio of a black hole binary. Use of such mother templates in a template bank will bring about a reduction in computational costs by up to a factor of 10 and a saving on storage by a factor of 100.

PACS numbers: 0480N, 9555Y, 9575P, 9780A

Print publication: Issue 23 (7 December 2000)
Received 20 October 2000