scholarly journals Compact radio emission indicates a structured jet was produced by a binary neutron star merger

Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 363 (6430) ◽  
pp. 968-971 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ghirlanda ◽  
O. S. Salafia ◽  
Z. Paragi ◽  
M. Giroletti ◽  
J. Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Very Long Baseline Interferometry ◽  
High Spatial Resolution ◽  
Apparent Size ◽  
Source Size ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Binary Neutron Star ◽  
Long Baseline ◽  
Relativistic Jet ◽  
Merger Event

The binary neutron star merger event GW170817 was detected through both electromagnetic radiation and gravitational waves. Its afterglow emission may have been produced by either a narrow relativistic jet or an isotropic outflow. High-spatial-resolution measurements of the source size and displacement can discriminate between these scenarios. We present very-long-baseline interferometry observations, performed 207.4 days after the merger by using a global network of 32 radio telescopes. The apparent source size is constrained to be smaller than 2.5 milli–arc seconds at the 90% confidence level. This excludes the isotropic outflow scenario, which would have produced a larger apparent size, indicating that GW170817 produced a structured relativistic jet. Our rate calculations show that at least 10% of neutron star mergers produce such a jet.

scholarly journals Gamma-Ray Bursts and Binary Neutron Star Mergers

1996 ◽  
Vol 165 ◽  
pp. 489-502
Author(s):  
Tsvi Piran
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Gravitational Radiation ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
Gamma Ray Bursts ◽  
Binary Neutron Star ◽  
Merger Event ◽  
Γ Rays ◽  
Γ Ray ◽  
The One

Neutron star binaries, such as the one observed in the famous binary pulsar PSR 1913+16, end their life in a catastrophic merger event (denoted here NS2M). The merger releases ∼5 1053 ergs, mostly as neutrinos and gravitational radiation. A small fraction of this energy suffices to power γ-ray bursts (GRBs) at cosmological distances. Cosmological GRBs must pass, however, an optically thick fireball phase and the observed γ rays emerge only at the end of this phase. Hence, it is difficult to determine the nature of the source from present observations (the agreement between the rates of GRBs and NS2Ms providing only indirect evidence for this model). In the future a coinciding detection of a GRB and a gravitational-radiation signal could confirm this model.

scholarly journals LOFAR 144-MHz follow-up observations of GW170817

2020 ◽  
Vol 494 (4) ◽  
pp. 5110-5117
Author(s):  
J W Broderick ◽  
T W Shimwell ◽  
K Gourdji ◽  
A Rowlinson ◽  
S Nissanke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Radio Spectrum ◽  
Central Frequency ◽  
Binary Neutron Star ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Upper Limits ◽  
Maximum Elevation ◽  
Merger Event

ABSTRACT We present low-radio-frequency follow-up observations of AT 2017gfo, the electromagnetic counterpart of GW170817, which was the first binary neutron star merger to be detected by Advanced LIGO–Virgo. These data, with a central frequency of 144 MHz, were obtained with LOFAR, the Low-Frequency Array. The maximum elevation of the target is just 13${_{.}^{\circ}}$7 when observed with LOFAR, making our observations particularly challenging to calibrate and significantly limiting the achievable sensitivity. On time-scales of 130–138 and 371–374 d after the merger event, we obtain 3σ upper limits for the afterglow component of 6.6 and 19.5 mJy beam−1, respectively. Using our best upper limit and previously published, contemporaneous higher frequency radio data, we place a limit on any potential steepening of the radio spectrum between 610 and 144 MHz: the two-point spectral index $\alpha ^{610}_{144} \gtrsim$ −2.5. We also show that LOFAR can detect the afterglows of future binary neutron star merger events occurring at more favourable elevations.

scholarly journals Binary Neutron Star (BNS) Merger: What We Learned from Relativistic Ejecta of GW/GRB 170817A

Physics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 194-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Houri Ziaeepour
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Gravitational Waves ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Lorentz Factor ◽  
Prompt Gamma ◽  
External Shocks ◽  
Binary Neutron Star ◽  
Tidal Forces ◽  
Relativistic Jet ◽  
Short Grbs

Gravitational Waves (GW) from coalescence of a Binary Neutron Star (BNS) and its accompanying short Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) GW/GRB 170817A confirmed the presumed origin of these puzzling transients and opened up the way for relating properties of short GRBs to those of their progenitor stars and their surroundings. Here we review an extensive analysis of the prompt gamma-ray and late afterglows of this event. We show that a fraction of polar ejecta from the merger had been accelerated to ultra-relativistic speeds. This structured jet had an initial Lorentz factor of about 260 in our direction, which was O ( 10 ∘ ) from the jet’s axis, and was a few orders of magnitude less dense than in typical short GRBs. At the time of arrival to circum-burst material the ultra-relativistic jet had a close to Gaussian profile and a Lorentz factor ≳ 130 in its core. It had retained in some extent its internal collimation and coherence, but had extended laterally to create mildly relativistic lobes—a cocoon. Its external shocks on the far from center inhomogeneous circum-burst material and low density of colliding shells generated slowly rising afterglows, which peaked more than 100 days after the prompt gamma-ray. The circum-burst material was somehow correlated with the merger. As non-relativistic outflows or tidally ejected material during BNS merger could not have been arrived to the location of the external shocks before the relativistic jet, circum-burst material might have contained recently ejected materials from resumption of internal activities, faulting and mass loss due to deformation and breaking of stars crusts by tidal forces during latest stages of their inspiral but well before their merger. By comparing these findings with the results of relativistic Magneto-Hydro-Dynamics (MHD) simulations and observed gravitational waves we conclude that progenitor neutron stars were most probably old, had close masses and highly reduced magnetic fields.

scholarly journals Identifying Quark Matter in Hybrid Stars through Relativistic Tidal Deformations

Universe ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 193
Author(s):  
Bryen Irving ◽  
Thomas Klähn ◽  
Prashanth Jaikumar ◽  
Marc Salinas ◽  
Wei Wei
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Parameter Space ◽  
Quark Matter ◽  
Specific Model ◽  
Nuclear Model ◽  
Hartree Fock ◽  
Binary Neutron Star ◽  
Merger Event ◽  
Hybrid Stars ◽  
Parameter Ranges

We study a specific model of neutron star matter that supports a phase transition to quark matter at high density and examine parameter ranges for consistency with the mass-weighted tidal deformability of Λ ˜ = 300 − 230 + 420 for a mass ratio of q ∈ [ 0.73 , 1.0 ] , as inferred from observations of gravitational waves from the binary neutron star merger event GW170817. By using this observation to restrict the parameter space for the equation of state (EoS) model used throughout this study, we aim to assess the possibility of a potential solution to the masquerade and flavor camouflage problems for hybrid EoS models. Assuming the two stars have the same EoS, in which the Dirac-Brueckner-Hartree Fock (DBHF) nuclear model transitions to the vBag quark model, we see if the parameter space of these hybrid model stars are restricted due to the adherence to the reported Λ 1.4 ∈ 70 , 580 and M m a x ∈ [ 2.01 , 2.16 ] M ⊙ constraints. Upon completion, we find that, while the parameter space for our model does get restricted, it does not ultimately resolve the masquerade and flavor camouflage problems.

scholarly journals Jet Propagation in Neutron Star Mergers and GW170817

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid Hamidani ◽  
Kenta Kiuchi ◽  
Kunihito Ioka
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Expansion Velocity ◽  
Analytic Model ◽  
Binary Neutron Star ◽  
Central Engine ◽  
Relativistic Jet ◽  
Wave Event

Abstract The gravitational wave event from the binary neutron star (BNS) merger GW170817 and the following multi-messenger observations present strong evidence for i) merger ejecta expanding with substantial velocities and ii) a relativistic jet which had to propagate through the merger ejecta. The ejecta’s expansion velocity is not negligible for the jet head motion, which is a fundamental difference from the other systems like collapsars and active galactic nuclei. Here we present an analytic model of the jet propagation in an expanding medium. In particular, we notice a new term in the expression of the breakout time and velocity. In parallel, we perform a series of over a hundred 2D numerical simulations of jet propagation. The BNS merger ejecta is prepared based on numerical relativity simulations of a BNS merger with the highest-resolution to date. We show that our analytic results agree with numerical simulations over a wide parameter space. Then we apply our analytic model to GW170817, and obtain two solid constraints on: i) the central engine luminosity as Liso, 0 ∼ 3 × 1049 − 2.5 × 1052 erg s−1, and on ii) the delay time between the merger and engine activation t0 − tm < 1.3 s. The engine power implies that the apparently-faint short gamma-ray burst (sGRB) sGRB 170817A is similar to typical sGRBs if observed on-axis.

scholarly journals Prospects of joint detections of neutron star mergers and short GRBs with Gaussian structured jets

2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (2) ◽  
pp. 1633-1639
Author(s):  
M Saleem
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Star ◽  
Joint Detection ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Binary Neutron Star ◽  
The Core ◽  
Relativistic Jet ◽  
Inclination Angles ◽  
Γ Ray ◽  
Short Grbs ◽  
Lower Inclination

ABSTRACT GW170817 was the first ever joint detection of gravitational waves (GW) from a binary neutron star (BNS) merger with the detections of short γ-ray burst (SGRB) counterparts. Analysis of the multiband afterglow observations of over more than a year revealed that the outflow from the merger end product was consistent with structured relativistic jet models with the core of the jet narrowly collimated to half-opening angles ∼5○. In this work, assuming that all the BNS mergers produce Gaussian structured jets with properties as inferred for GW170817, we explore the prospects of joint detections of BNS mergers and prompt γ-ray emission, expected during the current and upcoming upgrades of LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA detectors. We discuss three specific observational aspects: 1) the distribution of detected binary inclination angles, 2) the distance reach, and 3) the detection rates. Unlike GW-only detections, the joint detections are greatly restricted at large inclination angles, due to the structure of the jets. We find that at lower inclination angles (say below 20○), the distance reach as well as the detection rates of the joint detections are limited by GW detectability while at larger inclinations (say above 20○), they are limited by the γ-ray detectability.

scholarly journals Station Infrastructure Developments of the IVS

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk Behrend ◽  
Axel Nothnagel ◽  
Johannes Böhm ◽  
Chet Ruszczyk ◽  
Pedro Elosegui
Keyword(s):  
Very Long Baseline Interferometry ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Radio Telescopes ◽  
Geodetic Vlbi ◽  
The Past ◽  
Long Baseline ◽  
Aging Infrastructure ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
International Vlbi Service ◽  
Vlbi Data

&lt;p&gt;The International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry (IVS) is a globally operating service that coordinates and performs Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) activities through its constituent components. The VLBI activities are associated with the creation, provision, dissemination, and archiving of relevant VLBI data and products. The operational station network of the IVS currently consists of about 40 radio telescopes worldwide, subsets of which participate in regular 24-hour and 1-hour observing sessions. This legacy S/X observing network dates back in large part to the 1970s and 1980s. Because of highly demanding new scientific requirements such as sea-level change but also due to the aging infrastructure, the larger IVS community planned and started to implement a new VLBI system called VGOS (VLBI Global Observing System) at existing and new sites over the past several years. In 2020, a fledgling network of 8 VGOS stations started to observe in operational IVS sessions. We anticipate that the VGOS network will grow over the next couple of years to a global network of 25 stations and will eventually replace the legacy S/X system as the IVS production system. We will provide an overview of the recent developments and anticipated evolution of the geodetic VLBI station infrastructure.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Collimated outflows from long-lived binary neutron star merger remnants

2020 ◽  
Vol 495 (1) ◽  
pp. L66-L70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Ciolfi
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Gamma Ray Bursts ◽  
Spin Axis ◽  
Binary Neutron Star ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Massive Neutron Star ◽  
Merger Event ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACT The connection between short gamma-ray bursts (SGRBs) and binary neutron star (BNS) mergers was recently confirmed by the association of GRB 170817A with the merger event GW170817. However, no conclusive indications were obtained on whether the merger remnant that powered the SGRB jet was an accreting black hole (BH) or a long-lived massive neutron star (NS). Here, we explore the latter case via BNS merger simulations covering up to 250 ms after merger. We report, for the first time in a full merger simulation, the formation of a magnetically driven collimated outflow along the spin axis of the NS remnant. For the system at hand, the properties of such an outflow are found largely incompatible with an SGRB jet. With due consideration of the limitations and caveats of our present investigation, our results favour a BH origin for GRB 170817A and SGRBs in general. Even though this conclusion needs to be confirmed by exploring a larger variety of physical conditions, we briefly discuss possible consequences of all SGRB jets being powered by accreting BHs.

scholarly journals Detecting the Hadron-Quark Phase Transition with Gravitational Waves

Universe ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Hanauske ◽  
Luke Bovard ◽  
Elias Most ◽  
Jens Papenfort ◽  
Jan Steinheimer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Transition ◽  
Neutron Star ◽  
Equation Of State ◽  
Gravitational Wave ◽  
Compact Star ◽  
Binary Neutron Star ◽  
Interesting Part ◽  
Merger Event ◽  
Tidal Deformations ◽  
Quark Phase

The long-awaited detection of a gravitational wave from the merger of a binary neutron star in August 2017 (GW170817) marks the beginning of the new field of multi-messenger gravitational wave astronomy. By exploiting the extracted tidal deformations of the two neutron stars from the late inspiral phase of GW170817, it is now possible to constrain several global properties of the equation of state of neutron star matter. However, the most interesting part of the high density and temperature regime of the equation of state is solely imprinted in the post-merger gravitational wave emission from the remnant hypermassive/supramassive neutron star. This regime was not observed in GW170817, but will possibly be detected in forthcoming events within the current observing run of the LIGO/VIRGO collaboration. Numerous numerical-relativity simulations of merging neutron star binaries have been performed during the last decades, and the emitted gravitational wave profiles and the interior structure of the generated remnants have been analysed in detail. The consequences of a potential appearance of a hadron-quark phase transition in the interior region of the produced hypermassive neutron star and the evolution of its underlying matter in the phase diagram of quantum cromo dynamics will be in the focus of this article. It will be shown that the different density/temperature regions of the equation of state can be severely constrained by a measurement of the spectral properties of the emitted post-merger gravitational wave signal from a future binary compact star merger event.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document