A search for radio emission from double-neutron star merger GW190425 using Apertif
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2021

Context
Detection of the electromagnetic emission from coalescing binary neutron stars (BNS) is important for understanding the merger and afterglow. Aims. We present a search for a radio counterpart to the gravitational-wave (GW) source GW190425, a BNS merger, using Apertif on the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT).
Methods
We observed a field of high probability in the associated localisation region for three epochs at ΔTâ€., =â€., 68, 90, 109 d post merger. We identified all sources that exhibit flux variations consistent with the expected afterglow emission of GW190425. We also looked for possible transients. These are sources that are only present in one epoch. In addition, we quantified our ability to search for radio afterglows in the fourth and future observing runs of the GW detector network using Monte Carlo simulations.
Results
We found 25 afterglow candidates based on their variability. None of these could be associated with a possible host galaxy at the luminosity distance of GW190425. We also found 55 transient afterglow candidates that were only detected in one epoch. All of these candidates turned out to be image artefacts. In the fourth observing run, we predict that up to three afterglows will be detectable by Apertif.
Conclusions
While we did not find a source related to the afterglow emission of GW190425, the search validates our methods for future searches of radio afterglows.

Stars: neutron

Gravitational waves

Radio continuum: stars

Författare

O. M. Boersma

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

Universiteit Van Amsterdam

J. van Leeuwen

Universiteit Van Amsterdam

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

E. A.K. Adams

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

B. Adebahr

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

A. M. Kutkin

Russian Academy of Sciences

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

T. Oosterloo

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

W.J.G. de Blok

University of Cape Town

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

R. H. Van Den Brink

Tricas Industrial Design & Engineering

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

A. H.W.M. Coolen

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

L. Connor

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Universiteit Van Amsterdam

Sieds Damstra

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

H. Dénes

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

K. M. Hess

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

J. M. van der Hulst

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

B. Hut

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

Marianna Ivashina

Chalmers, Elektroteknik, Kommunikation, Antenner och Optiska Nätverk

G. M. Loose

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

D. M. Lucero

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Y. Maan

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

Mika

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

V. A. Moss

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

The University of Sydney

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

H. Mulder

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

L. C. Oostrum

Universiteit Van Amsterdam

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

Mark Ruiter

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

D. Van Der Schuur

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

R. Smits

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

N. Vermaas

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

D. Vohl

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

J. Ziemke

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON)

Astronomy and Astrophysics

0004-6361 (ISSN) 1432-0746 (eISSN)

Vol. 650 A131

Ämneskategorier

Subatomär fysik

Meteorologi och atmosfärforskning

Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi

DOI

10.1051/0004-6361/202140578

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2021-07-06