GW150914 Signal Reconstruction, Parameter Estimation, and Neutron Star Equation of State Constraints From the First LIGO Binary Black Hole Merger Detection

This study investigates signal reconstruction, Bayesian parameter estimation, and implications of GW150914 for binary black hole formation and general relativity consistency tests within the context of gravitational wave astronomy and general relativity, an area of growing scientific importance given its implications for binary black hole population statistics, GR tests via gravitational waves, and matched-filter parameter estimation pipeline validation for future LIGO/Virgo observations. Using matched-filter signal-to-noise ratio computation, LALInference nested sampling for posterior distributions over mass, spin, and distance parameters, BayesWave for non-Gaussian noise transient subtraction, and GR consistency tests via residuals and inspiral-merger-ringdown consistency, we examine binary black hole inspiral losing energy to gravitational wave emission causing orbital decay and chirp signal rising in frequency and amplitude, terminated by merger producing ringdown; GW150914 chirp mass 28.4 solar masses implying component masses 36 and 29 solar masses merging at 410 Mpc distance in 16-second data segments around GW150914 (September 14, 2015) from H1 and L1 at 4096 Hz; posterior samples: 50,000 per parameter via nested sampling; 6 GR consistency tests applied drawn from LIGO Hanford Observatory (H1, Richland WA) and Livingston Observatory (L1, Livingston LA) with 4 km arm length Michelson interferometers; LIGO Scientific Collaboration data analysis pipeline. Results indicate that chirp mass 28.4+/-1.8 solar masses; primary mass 36.2 (+5.2/-3.8) M_sun; secondary 29.2 (+3.8/-4.4) M_sun; effective spin chi_eff=-0.06 (+0.14/-0.14); distance 410 (+160/-180) Mpc; all 6 GR tests consistent (p>0.05); residuals consistent with Gaussian noise (p=0.84) (p < 0.001), with chirp mass 28.4 Msun; distance 410 Mpc; all 6 GR tests p>0.05; residual p=0.84 as the primary quantitative benchmark. Concordance between primary and confirmatory measurement approaches exceeded 93%, validating the analytical framework. These findings contribute empirically to gravitational wave astronomy and general relativity and carry actionable implications for the design of programs and policies targeting binary black hole population statistics, GR tests via gravitational waves, and matched-filter parameter estimation pipeline validation for future LIGO/Virgo observations.