https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-018-5841-x
Regular Article - Theoretical Physics
Testing the anisotropy of the universe using the simulated gravitational wave events from advanced LIGO and Virgo
Department of Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
* e-mail: lixin1981@cqu.edu.cn
Received:
2
February
2018
Accepted:
24
April
2018
Published online:
3
May
2018
The detection of gravitational waves (GWs) provides a powerful tool to constrain the cosmological parameters. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of using GWs as standard sirens in testing the anisotropy of the universe. We consider the GW signals produced by the coalescence of binary black hole systems and simulate hundreds of GW events from the advanced laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatory and Virgo. It is found that the anisotropy of the universe can be tightly constrained if the redshift of the GW source is precisely known. The anisotropic amplitude can be constrained with an accuracy comparable to the Union2.1 complication of type-Ia supernovae if 
GW events are observed. As for the preferred direction, 
GW events are needed in order to achieve the accuracy of Union2.1. With 800 GW events, the probability of pseudo anisotropic signals with an amplitude comparable to Union2.1 is negligible. These results show that GWs can provide a complementary tool to supernovae in testing the anisotropy of the universe.
© The Author(s), 2018
