Think of it as a matched filter tuned to the impulse response of a gravity wave. If that filter matches the observed signal then it's a detection, if it doesn'

Think of it as a matched filter tuned to the impulse response of a gravity wave. If that filter matches the observed signal then it's a detection, if it doesn't then it's not. The debate is over the significance of the inevitable remainder after subtracting the model of the signal. Is it an expected amount of remainder or an unexpectedly large amount of remainder.