PreprintCC BY 4.0arXiv
On the interplay between waveform systematics and lensing signatures in gravitational-wave signals
Abstract
The exceptional gravitational-wave event GW231123 exhibited unusually high total mass and near-extremal spins, while revealing strong waveform-dependent variations in its inferred source properties. Several follow-up studies favored a lensed interpretation, with reduced waveform systematics, raising the question of whether apparent lensing evidence could arise from waveform modeling systematics. Using GW231123-like numerical-relativity injections, we find that lensing degrees of freedom can reduce waveform discrepancies and yield non-negligible lensing support. However, this behavior is not systematic across injections, and cases where all waveform and lens models favor lensing while reducing waveform discrepancies are not found.
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BibTeX
@misc{hegde2026interplay,
title = {{On the interplay between waveform systematics and lensing signatures in gravitational-wave signals}},
author = {Disha Hegde and Justin Janquart},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.03935},
eprint = {2609.03935},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.03935},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - On the interplay between waveform systematics and lensing signatures in gravitational-wave signals
AU - Disha Hegde
AU - Justin Janquart
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/08
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.03935
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.03935
AB - The exceptional gravitational-wave event GW231123 exhibited unusually high total mass and near-extremal spins, while revealing strong waveform-dependent variations in its inferred source properties. Several follow-up studies favored a lensed interpretation, with reduced waveform systematics, raising the question of whether apparent lensing evidence could arise from waveform modeling systematics. Using GW231123-like numerical-relativity injections, we find that lensing degrees of freedom can reduce waveform discrepancies and yield non-negligible lensing support. However, this behavior is not systematic across injections, and cases where all waveform and lens models favor lensing while reducing waveform discrepancies are not found.
ER -