centra

LIGO observations of black hole binary coalescences have opened a new window to the universe. By combining theoretical and numerical methods we can build parametrized models of the gravitational waveforms emitted from inspiraling and merging compact binaries. Given accurate and fast models of these waveforms we can infer source parameters from GW events and shed light on formation scenarios of the binaries and the population of these systems in the universe. I will discuss challenges in source modeling and parameter estimation analyses and touch upon which quantities we can measure and how systematic errors affect the results.