Gravitational wave coalescence events provide an entirely new way to determine the Hubble constant [ ] , with the absolute distance calibration provided by the theory of general relativity .
This standard siren method was utilized to measure the Hubble constant using LIGO-Virgo ’ s detection of the binary neutron-star merger GW170817 , as well as optical identifications of the host galaxy , NGC 4993 [ ] .
The novel and independent measurement is of particular interest given the existing tension between the value of the Hubble constant determined using Type Ia supernovae via the local distance ladder ( 73.24 \pm 1.74 ) and that from Cosmic Microwave Background observations ( 66.93 \pm 0.62 ) by \sim 3 sigma [ ] .
Local distance ladder observations may achieve a precision of 1 % within 5 years , but at present there are no indications that further observations will substantially reduce the existing discrepancies [ ] .
In addition to clarifying the discrepancy between existing low and high-redshift measurements , a precision measurement of the Hubble constant is of crucial value in elucidating the nature of the dark energy [ ] .
Here we show that LIGO and Virgo can be expected to constrain the Hubble constant to a precision of \sim 2 \% within 5 years and \sim 1 \% within a decade .