Comparison of search templates for gravitational waves from binary inspiral

We compare the performances of the templates defined by three different types of approaches: traditional post-Newtonian templates (Taylor approximants), ``resummed'' post-Newtonian templates assuming the adiabatic approximation and stopping before the plunge (P approximants), and further ``resummed'' post-Newtonian templates going beyond the adiabatic approximation and incorporating the plunge with its transition from the inspiral (effective-one-body approximants). The signal to noise ratio is significantly enhanced (mainly because of the inclusion of the plunge signal) by using these new effective-one-body templates relative to the usual post-Newtonian ones for a total binary mass m30M_, and reaches a maximum around m80M_. Independently of the question of the plunge signal, the comparison of the various templates confirms the usefulness of using resummation methods. The paper also summarizes the key elements of the construction of various templates and thus can serve as a resource for those involved in writing inspiral search software.