| In this dissertation we study gravitational-wave searches for binary neutron star and neutron star - black hole coalescences. We determine the accuracy of post-Newtonian approximations as gravitational-wave templates in matched-filter based searches for NSBH mergers. We test a geometric method to generate template banks for BNS and NSBH mergers where the components have intrinsic spin, and estimate the sensitivity to astrophysical sources of searches that use these banks during Advanced LIGO. We explore simplifications and optimizations to the search pipeline used during S6/VSR2,3 gravitational-wave searches. We investigate methods for regenerating template banks as the noise behavior of a detector changes over time. We further investigate changes to the algorithm for determining coincidence between candidates from multiple-detectors. Finally, we develop a focused search for binary neutron stars, and test improvements to its configuration using LIGO detector data from the most recent science run. |
