TY - JOUR
T1 - Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger
AU - Abbott, B.P.
AU - Abbott, R.
AU - Abbott, T. D.
AU - Acernese, F.
AU - Ackley, K.
AU - Adams, C.
AU - Adams, T
AU - Addesso, P.
AU - Adhikari, R.X.
AU - Adya, V.B.
AU - Affeldt, C.
AU - Afrough, M.
AU - Agarwal, Bina
AU - Agathos, M.
AU - Agatsuma, K.
AU - Aggarwal, Neha
AU - Aguiar, O. D.
AU - Aiello, Leslie
AU - Ain, A.
AU - Ajith, P.
AU - Collins, Allen G.
AU - Allocca, A.
AU - Fynbo, Johan Peter Uldall
AU - Malesani, Daniele
AU - Medici, Morten Ankersen
AU - Larson, Michael James
AU - Koskinen, D. Jason
AU - Sarkar, Subir
AU - Ahlers, Markus
AU - Ramirez-Ruiz, Jorge Enrico
AU - Jørgensen, Uffe Gråe
AU - Gibby, M.H.
AU - Cline, T.
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40- + 8 8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 M☉. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One-Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ∼10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient's position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC 4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta.
AB - On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40- + 8 8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 M☉. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One-Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ∼10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient's position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC 4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta.
U2 - 10.3847/2041-8213/aa91c9
DO - 10.3847/2041-8213/aa91c9
M3 - Journal article
SN - 2041-8205
VL - 848
JO - Astrophysics Journal Letters
JF - Astrophysics Journal Letters
IS - 2
M1 - L12
ER -