Epistemic Analysis of the EOB and EMRI Method
Lydia Patton (Philosophy) – BHI
Title: Epistemic Analysis of the EOB and EMRI Method
Abstract: The Effective One-Body (EOB) formalism and the Extreme Mass Ratio Inspiral (EMRI) methods involve the following general steps (Hughes 2000, Cornish 2008, Buonanno and Damour 1999):
- Modeling binary systems so that one body stands in for the dynamics of the entire system.
- Modeling the system using one-body dynamics.
- Finding a way to represent the ‘extra’ body: perturbation (EMRI) or resummation (EOB).
This talk will analyze two related means of epistemic analysis of these methods. First, the expansion of tractable solutions using creative modeling, within the framework of what Bokulich (2011) calls structural model explanations. Second, the use of surrogative reasoning within structural model explanations. The epistemic analysis will be used to evaluate challenges for future extensions of (or revisions to) EMRI and EOB methods.
Bio: Lydia Patton is a philosopher of science and a historian of the philosophy of science. Much of her recent work and work in progress centers on philosophical analysis of science and the history of science: especially on the development of experimental and formal methods, hypotheses, frameworks, and scientific communities. Her work focuses on finding links between that development and the process of theory building and testing. Recent work focuses on the development of gravitational wave astronomy, especially the LIGO project. Patton has written many articles, details of which can be found on her personal website and on the website philpapers.
