Constraining Concrete Assumptions for Compact Binary Formation through Isolated Binary Evolution

The predicted population of compact binary mergers varies widely with assumptions about their formation and on specific model parameters, necessitating a careful study of these formation parameters. Using the StarTrack binary evolution code, we simulate populations of compact binaries with varied assumptions about supernova recoil kicks, the amount and specific angular momentum of ejected material during mass transfer, and mass loss rates due to stellar wind in hydrogen-dominated stars. The postprocessing of these simulated merger populations allows us to predict a population of gravitational-wave sources which may be observed in a universe matching those model assumptions. We constrain the space of these formation parameters, demonstrating a method of careful interpolation of marginal likelihoods between expensive simulations.