Gravitational Wave Distance Estimation Using Intrinsic Signal Properties: Dark Sirens as Distance Indicators

Gravitational Waves (GWs) offer a unique avenue for cosmological distance measurement, bypassing the systematic uncertainties associated with traditional electromagnetic (EM) distance indicators. This paper presents a novel model for estimating the distance to binary black hole (BBH) merger events using only GW data, independent of EM counterparts. By leveraging the intrinsic properties of the GW signal, specifically the strain amplitude and merger frequency, this model provides an efficient preliminary distance estimation approach that can enhance our understanding of the host binary system. Applied to 87 sources from the LIGO and Virgo Gravitational Wave Transient Catalogs (GWTC), the model demonstrates consistent agreement with distances reported by LIGO, validating its reliability as a GW only estimator. This model offers a promising solution for BBH systems, which typically lack detectable EM signatures, thereby expanding the scope of GW-based cosmology. Additionally, this approach provides critical preliminary distance estimates that can inform parameter constraints for BBH systems during subsequent analyses, enhancing our capacity to probe the universe using dark sirens.