A First Search for Prompt Radio Emission from a Gravitational-Wave Event

Multimessenger observations of the binary neutron star merger GW170817 have enabled the discovery of a diverse array of electromagnetic counterparts to compact binary mergers, including an unambiguous kilonova, a short gamma-ray burst, and a late-time radio jet. Beyond these counterparts, compact binary mergers are additionally predicted to be accompanied by prompt low-frequency radio emission. The successful observation of a prompt radio counterpart would be immensely valuable, but is made difficult by the short delay between the gravitational-wave and prompt electromagnetic signals, as well as by the poor localization of gravitational-wave sources. Here, we present the first search for prompt radio emission accompanying a gravitational-wave event, targeting the binary black hole merger GW170104 detected by the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and Virgo during their second (O2) observing run. Using the Owens Valley Radio Observatory Long Wavelength Array, we search a ∼900 deg2 region for transient radio emission within approximately one hour of GW170104, obtaining an upper limit of 2.5 × 1041 erg s−1 on its equivalent isotropic luminosity between 27 and 84 MHz. We additionally discuss plans to target binary neutron star mergers in Advanced LIGO and Virgo’s upcoming O3 observing run.

Note:

13 pages + appendices, 7 figures, submitted to ApJ

gravitational waves
radiation mechanisms: non-thermal
stars: black holes
neutron star: binary
binary: compact
black hole: binary
gamma ray: burst
gravitational radiation
radio wave
electromagnetic

References(75)

Figures(8)

Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger

LIGO Scientific and
Virgo

Collaborations

•

B.P. Abbott
(
- Caltech
)

et al.

- Phys.Rev.Lett. 116 (2016) 6, 061102
•
e-Print:
- 1602.03837
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.061102

Prospects for observing and localizing gravitational-wave transients with Advanced LIGO, Advanced Virgo and KAGRA

Collaborations

•

B.P. Abbott
(
- LIGO Lab., Caltech
)

et al.

- Living Rev.Rel. 23 (2020) 3,
- Living Rev.Rel. 21 (2018) 3,
- Living Rev.Rel. 19 (2016) 1
•
e-Print:
- 1304.0670
•
DOI:
- 10.1007/s41114-020-00026-9

Low-latency Gravitational-wave Alerts for Multimessenger Astronomy during the Second Advanced LIGO and Virgo Observing Run

LIGO Scientific and
Virgo

Collaborations

•

B.P. Abbott
(
- LIGO Lab., Caltech
)

et al.

- Astrophys.J. 875 (2019) 2, 161
•
e-Print:
- 1901.03310
•
DOI:
- 10.3847/1538-4357/ab0e8f

GW170817: Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Neutron Star Inspiral

LIGO Scientific and
Virgo

Collaborations

•

B.P. Abbott
(
- LIGO Lab., Caltech
)

et al.

- Phys.Rev.Lett. 119 (2017) 16, 161101
•
e-Print:
- 1710.05832
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.161101

GW170817: Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Neutron Star Inspiral

LIGO Scientific and
Virgo

Collaborations

•

B.P. Abbott
(
- LIGO Lab., Caltech
)

et al.

- Phys.Rev.Lett. 119 (2017) 16, 161101
•
e-Print:
- 1710.05832
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.161101

Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger

LIGO Scientific and
Virgo and
Fermi GBM and
INTEGRAL and
IceCube and
IPN and
Insight-Hxmt and
ANTARES and
Swift and
Dark Energy Camera GW-EM and
DES and
DLT40 and
GRAWITA and
Fermi-LAT and
ATCA and
ASKAP and
OzGrav and
DWF (Deeper Wider Faster Program) and
AST3 and
CAASTRO and
VINROUGE and
MASTER and
J-GEM and
GROWTH and
JAGWAR and
CaltechNRAO and
TTU-NRAO and
NuSTAR and
Pan-STARRS and
KU and
Nordic Optical Telescope and
ePESSTO and
GROND and
Texas Tech University and
TOROS and
BOOTES and
MWA and
CALET and
IKI-GW Follow-up and
H.E.S.S. and
LOFAR and
LWA and
HAWC and
Pierre Auger and
ALMA and
Pi of Sky and
Chandra Team at McGill University and
DFN and
ATLAS Telescopes and
High Time Resolution Universe Survey and
RIMAS and
RATIR and
SKA South Africa/MeerKAT

Collaborations

•

B.P. Abbott
(
- LIGO Lab., Caltech
)

et al.

- Astrophys.J.Lett. 848 (2017) 2, L12
•
e-Print:
- 1710.05833
•
DOI:
- 10.3847/2041-8213/aa91c9

Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger

LIGO Scientific and
Virgo and
Fermi GBM and
INTEGRAL and
IceCube and
IPN and
Insight-Hxmt and
ANTARES and
Swift and
Dark Energy Camera GW-EM and
DES and
DLT40 and
GRAWITA and
Fermi-LAT and
ATCA and
ASKAP and
OzGrav and
DWF (Deeper Wider Faster Program) and
AST3 and
CAASTRO and
VINROUGE and
MASTER and
J-GEM and
GROWTH and
JAGWAR and
CaltechNRAO and
TTU-NRAO and
NuSTAR and
Pan-STARRS and
KU and
Nordic Optical Telescope and
ePESSTO and
GROND and
Texas Tech University and
TOROS and
BOOTES and
MWA and
CALET and
IKI-GW Follow-up and
H.E.S.S. and
LOFAR and
LWA and
HAWC and
Pierre Auger and
ALMA and
Pi of Sky and
Chandra Team at McGill University and
DFN and
ATLAS Telescopes and
High Time Resolution Universe Survey and
RIMAS and
RATIR and
SKA South Africa/MeerKAT

Collaborations

•

B.P. Abbott
(
- LIGO Lab., Caltech
)

et al.

- Astrophys.J.Lett. 848 (2017) 2, L12
•
e-Print:
- 1710.05833
•
DOI:
- 10.3847/2041-8213/aa91c9

A gravitational-wave standard siren measurement of the Hubble constant

Collaborations

•

B.P. Abbott
(
- LIGO Lab., Caltech
)

et al.

- Nature 551 (2017) 7678, 85-88
•
e-Print:
- 1710.05835
•
DOI:
- 10.1038/nature24471

GW170104: Observation of a 50-Solar-Mass Binary Black Hole Coalescence at Redshift 0.2

LIGO Scientific and
VIRGO

Collaborations

•

Benjamin P. Abbott
(
- LIGO Lab., Caltech
)

et al.

- Phys.Rev.Lett. 118 (2017) 22, 221101,
- Phys.Rev.Lett. 121 (2018) 12, 129901 (erratum)
•
e-Print:
- 1706.01812
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.221101

GW170104: Observation of a 50-Solar-Mass Binary Black Hole Coalescence at Redshift 0.2

LIGO Scientific and
VIRGO

Collaborations

•

Benjamin P. Abbott
(
- LIGO Lab., Caltech
)

et al.

- Phys.Rev.Lett. 118 (2017) 22, 221101,
- Phys.Rev.Lett. 121 (2018) 12, 129901 (erratum)
•
e-Print:
- 1706.01812
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.221101