Compact binary systems with neutron stars or black holes are one of the most
promising sources for ground-based gravitational wave detectors. Gravitational
radiation encodes rich information about source physics; thus parameter
estimation and model selection are crucial analysis steps for any detection
candidate events. Detailed models of the anticipated waveforms enable inference
on several parameters, such as component masses, spins, sky location and
distance that are essential for new astrophysical studies of these sources.
However, accurate measurements of these parameters and discrimination of models
describing the underlying physics are complicated by artifacts in the data,
uncertainties in the waveform models and in the calibration of the detectors.
Here we report such measurements on a selection of simulated signals added
either in hardware or software to the data collected by the two LIGO
instruments and the Virgo detector during their most recent joint science run,
including a "blind injection" where the signal was not initially revealed to
the collaboration. We exemplify the ability to extract information about the
source physics on signals that cover the neutron star and black hole parameter
space over the individual mass range 1 Msun - 25 Msun and the full range of
spin parameters. The cases reported in this study provide a snap-shot of the
status of parameter estimation in preparation for the operation of advanced
detectors.
