The electromagnetic counterpart of the binary neutron star merger LIGO/Virgo GW170817. I. Discovery of the optical counterpart using the Dark Energy Camera

We present the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) discovery of the optical counterpart of the first binary neutron star merger detected through gravitational wave emission, GW170817. Our observations commenced 10.5 hours post-merger, as soon as the localization region became accessible from Chile. We imaged...

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Main Authors:	Soares-Santos, M., Holz, D.E., Annis, J., Chornock, R., Herner, K., Berger, E., Brout, D., Chen, H.-Y., Kessler, R., Sako, M., Allam, S., Tucker, DL., Butler, R. E., Palmese, A., Doctor, Z., Diehl, H.T., Frieman, J., Yanny, B., Lin, H., Scolnic, D., Cowperthwaite, P., Neilsen, E., Marriner, J., Kuropatkin, N., Hartley, W.G., Paz-Chinchón, F., Alexander, K.D., Balbinot, E., Blanchard, P., Brown, D.A., Carlin, J.L., Conselice, Christopher J., Cook, E.R., Drlica-Wagner, A., Drout, M.R., Durret, F., Eftekhari, T., Farr, B., Finley, D.A., Foley, R.J., Fong, W., Fryer, C.L., García-Bellido, J., Gill, M.S.S., Gruendl, R.A., Hanna, C., Kasen, D., Li, T.S., Lopes, P.A.A., Lourenço, A.C.C., Margutti, R., Marshall, J.L., Matheson, T., Medina, G.E., Metzger, B.D., Muñoz, R.R., Muir, J., Nicholl, M., Quataert, E., Rest, A., Sauseda, M., Schlegel, D.J., Secco, L.F., Sobreira, F., Stebbins, A., Villar, V.A., Vivas, K., Walker, A.R., Wester, W., Williams, P.K.G., Zenteno, A., Zhang, Y., Abbott, T.M.C., Abdalla, F.B., Banerji, M., Bechtol, K., Benoit-Lévy, A., Bertin, E., Brooks, D., Buckley-Geer, E., Burke, D.L., Rosell, A. Carnero, Kind, M. Carrasco, Carretero, J., Castander, F.J., Crocce, M., Cunha, C.E., D’Andrea, C.B., Costa, L.N. da, Davis, C., Desai, S., Dietrich, J.P., Doel, P., Eifler, T.F., Fernandez, E., Flaugher, B., Fosalba, P., Gaztanaga, E., Gerdes, D.W., Giannantonio, T., Goldstein, D.A., Gruen, D., Gschwend, J., Gutierrez, G., Honscheid, K., Jain, B., James, D.J., Jeltema, T., Johnson, M.W.G., Johnson, M.D., Kent, S., Krause, E., Kron, R., Kuehn, K., Kuhlmann, S., Lahav, O., Lima, M., Maia, M.A.G., March, M., McMahon, R.G., Menanteau, F., Miquel, R., Mohr, J.J., Nichol, R.C., Nord, B., Ogando, R.L C., Petravick, D., Plazas, A.A., Romer, A.K., Roodman, A., Rykoff, E.S., Sanchez, E., Scarpine, V., Schubnell, M., Sevilla-Noarbe, I., Smith, M., Smith, R.C., Suchyta, E., Swanson, M.E.C., Tarle, G., Thomas, D., Thomas, R.C., Troxel, M.A., Vikram, V., Wechsler, R.H., Weller, J.
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	American Astronomical Society 2017
Subjects:	binaries: close— catalogs— gravitational waves — stars: neutron— surveys
Online Access:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47904/

_version_	1848797645710032896
author	Soares-Santos, M. Holz, D.E. Annis, J. Chornock, R. Herner, K. Berger, E. Brout, D. Chen, H.-Y. Kessler, R. Sako, M. Allam, S. Tucker, DL. Butler, R. E. Palmese, A. Doctor, Z. Diehl, H.T. Frieman, J. Yanny, B. Lin, H. Scolnic, D. Cowperthwaite, P. Neilsen, E. Marriner, J. Kuropatkin, N. Hartley, W.G. Paz-Chinchón, F. Alexander, K.D. Balbinot, E. Blanchard, P. Brown, D.A. Carlin, J.L. Conselice, Christopher J. Cook, E.R. Drlica-Wagner, A. Drout, M.R. Durret, F. Eftekhari, T. Farr, B. Finley, D.A. Foley, R.J. Fong, W. Fryer, C.L. García-Bellido, J. Gill, M.S.S. Gruendl, R.A. Hanna, C. Kasen, D. Li, T.S. Lopes, P.A.A. Lourenço, A.C.C. Margutti, R. Marshall, J.L. Matheson, T. Medina, G.E. Metzger, B.D. Muñoz, R.R. Muir, J. Nicholl, M. Quataert, E. Rest, A. Sauseda, M. Schlegel, D.J. Secco, L.F. Sobreira, F. Stebbins, A. Villar, V.A. Vivas, K. Walker, A.R. Wester, W. Williams, P.K.G. Zenteno, A. Zhang, Y. Abbott, T.M.C. Abdalla, F.B. Banerji, M. Bechtol, K. Benoit-Lévy, A. Bertin, E. Brooks, D. Buckley-Geer, E. Burke, D.L. Rosell, A. Carnero Kind, M. Carrasco Carretero, J. Castander, F.J. Crocce, M. Cunha, C.E. D’Andrea, C.B. Costa, L.N. da Davis, C. Desai, S. Dietrich, J.P. Doel, P. Eifler, T.F. Fernandez, E. Flaugher, B. Fosalba, P. Gaztanaga, E. Gerdes, D.W. Giannantonio, T. Goldstein, D.A. Gruen, D. Gschwend, J. Gutierrez, G. Honscheid, K. Jain, B. James, D.J. Jeltema, T. Johnson, M.W.G. Johnson, M.D. Kent, S. Krause, E. Kron, R. Kuehn, K. Kuhlmann, S. Lahav, O. Lima, M. Maia, M.A.G. March, M. McMahon, R.G. Menanteau, F. Miquel, R. Mohr, J.J. Nichol, R.C. Nord, B. Ogando, R.L C. Petravick, D. Plazas, A.A. Romer, A.K. Roodman, A. Rykoff, E.S. Sanchez, E. Scarpine, V. Schubnell, M. Sevilla-Noarbe, I. Smith, M. Smith, R.C. Suchyta, E. Swanson, M.E.C. Tarle, G. Thomas, D. Thomas, R.C. Troxel, M.A. Vikram, V. Wechsler, R.H. Weller, J.
author_facet	Soares-Santos, M. Holz, D.E. Annis, J. Chornock, R. Herner, K. Berger, E. Brout, D. Chen, H.-Y. Kessler, R. Sako, M. Allam, S. Tucker, DL. Butler, R. E. Palmese, A. Doctor, Z. Diehl, H.T. Frieman, J. Yanny, B. Lin, H. Scolnic, D. Cowperthwaite, P. Neilsen, E. Marriner, J. Kuropatkin, N. Hartley, W.G. Paz-Chinchón, F. Alexander, K.D. Balbinot, E. Blanchard, P. Brown, D.A. Carlin, J.L. Conselice, Christopher J. Cook, E.R. Drlica-Wagner, A. Drout, M.R. Durret, F. Eftekhari, T. Farr, B. Finley, D.A. Foley, R.J. Fong, W. Fryer, C.L. García-Bellido, J. Gill, M.S.S. Gruendl, R.A. Hanna, C. Kasen, D. Li, T.S. Lopes, P.A.A. Lourenço, A.C.C. Margutti, R. Marshall, J.L. Matheson, T. Medina, G.E. Metzger, B.D. Muñoz, R.R. Muir, J. Nicholl, M. Quataert, E. Rest, A. Sauseda, M. Schlegel, D.J. Secco, L.F. Sobreira, F. Stebbins, A. Villar, V.A. Vivas, K. Walker, A.R. Wester, W. Williams, P.K.G. Zenteno, A. Zhang, Y. Abbott, T.M.C. Abdalla, F.B. Banerji, M. Bechtol, K. Benoit-Lévy, A. Bertin, E. Brooks, D. Buckley-Geer, E. Burke, D.L. Rosell, A. Carnero Kind, M. Carrasco Carretero, J. Castander, F.J. Crocce, M. Cunha, C.E. D’Andrea, C.B. Costa, L.N. da Davis, C. Desai, S. Dietrich, J.P. Doel, P. Eifler, T.F. Fernandez, E. Flaugher, B. Fosalba, P. Gaztanaga, E. Gerdes, D.W. Giannantonio, T. Goldstein, D.A. Gruen, D. Gschwend, J. Gutierrez, G. Honscheid, K. Jain, B. James, D.J. Jeltema, T. Johnson, M.W.G. Johnson, M.D. Kent, S. Krause, E. Kron, R. Kuehn, K. Kuhlmann, S. Lahav, O. Lima, M. Maia, M.A.G. March, M. McMahon, R.G. Menanteau, F. Miquel, R. Mohr, J.J. Nichol, R.C. Nord, B. Ogando, R.L C. Petravick, D. Plazas, A.A. Romer, A.K. Roodman, A. Rykoff, E.S. Sanchez, E. Scarpine, V. Schubnell, M. Sevilla-Noarbe, I. Smith, M. Smith, R.C. Suchyta, E. Swanson, M.E.C. Tarle, G. Thomas, D. Thomas, R.C. Troxel, M.A. Vikram, V. Wechsler, R.H. Weller, J.
author_sort	Soares-Santos, M.
building	Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection	Online Access
description	We present the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) discovery of the optical counterpart of the first binary neutron star merger detected through gravitational wave emission, GW170817. Our observations commenced 10.5 hours post-merger, as soon as the localization region became accessible from Chile. We imaged 70 deg2 in the i and z bands, covering 93% of the initial integrated localization probability, to a depth necessary to identify likely optical counterparts (e.g., a kilonova). At 11.4 hours post-merger we detected a bright optical transient located 10:600 from the nucleus of NGC4993 at redshift z = 0:0098, consistent (for H0 = 70 km s-1 Mpc-1) with the distance of 40±8 Mpc reported by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and the Virgo Collaboration (LVC). At detection the transient had magnitudes i=17.3 and z=17.4, and thus an absolute magnitude of Mi = -15.7, in the luminosity range expected for a kilonova. We identified 1,500 potential transient candidates. Applying simple selection criteria aimed at rejecting background events such as supernovae, we find the transient associated with NGC4993 as the only remaining plausible counterpart, and reject chance coincidence at the 99.5% confidence level. We therefore conclude that the optical counterpart we have identified near NGC4993 is associated with GW170817. This discovery ushers in the era of multi-messenger astronomy with gravitational waves, and demonstrates the power of DECam to identify the optical counterparts of gravitational-wave sources.
first_indexed	2025-11-14T20:07:10Z
format	Article
id	nottingham-47904
institution	University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
institution_category	Local University
language	English
last_indexed	2025-11-14T20:07:10Z
publishDate	2017
publisher	American Astronomical Society
recordtype	eprints
repository_type	Digital Repository
spelling	nottingham-479042017-11-06T19:58:58Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47904/ The electromagnetic counterpart of the binary neutron star merger LIGO/Virgo GW170817. I. Discovery of the optical counterpart using the Dark Energy Camera Soares-Santos, M. Holz, D.E. Annis, J. Chornock, R. Herner, K. Berger, E. Brout, D. Chen, H.-Y. Kessler, R. Sako, M. Allam, S. Tucker, DL. Butler, R. E. Palmese, A. Doctor, Z. Diehl, H.T. Frieman, J. Yanny, B. Lin, H. Scolnic, D. Cowperthwaite, P. Neilsen, E. Marriner, J. Kuropatkin, N. Hartley, W.G. Paz-Chinchón, F. Alexander, K.D. Balbinot, E. Blanchard, P. Brown, D.A. Carlin, J.L. Conselice, Christopher J. Cook, E.R. Drlica-Wagner, A. Drout, M.R. Durret, F. Eftekhari, T. Farr, B. Finley, D.A. Foley, R.J. Fong, W. Fryer, C.L. García-Bellido, J. Gill, M.S.S. Gruendl, R.A. Hanna, C. Kasen, D. Li, T.S. Lopes, P.A.A. Lourenço, A.C.C. Margutti, R. Marshall, J.L. Matheson, T. Medina, G.E. Metzger, B.D. Muñoz, R.R. Muir, J. Nicholl, M. Quataert, E. Rest, A. Sauseda, M. Schlegel, D.J. Secco, L.F. Sobreira, F. Stebbins, A. Villar, V.A. Vivas, K. Walker, A.R. Wester, W. Williams, P.K.G. Zenteno, A. Zhang, Y. Abbott, T.M.C. Abdalla, F.B. Banerji, M. Bechtol, K. Benoit-Lévy, A. Bertin, E. Brooks, D. Buckley-Geer, E. Burke, D.L. Rosell, A. Carnero Kind, M. Carrasco Carretero, J. Castander, F.J. Crocce, M. Cunha, C.E. D’Andrea, C.B. Costa, L.N. da Davis, C. Desai, S. Dietrich, J.P. Doel, P. Eifler, T.F. Fernandez, E. Flaugher, B. Fosalba, P. Gaztanaga, E. Gerdes, D.W. Giannantonio, T. Goldstein, D.A. Gruen, D. Gschwend, J. Gutierrez, G. Honscheid, K. Jain, B. James, D.J. Jeltema, T. Johnson, M.W.G. Johnson, M.D. Kent, S. Krause, E. Kron, R. Kuehn, K. Kuhlmann, S. Lahav, O. Lima, M. Maia, M.A.G. March, M. McMahon, R.G. Menanteau, F. Miquel, R. Mohr, J.J. Nichol, R.C. Nord, B. Ogando, R.L C. Petravick, D. Plazas, A.A. Romer, A.K. Roodman, A. Rykoff, E.S. Sanchez, E. Scarpine, V. Schubnell, M. Sevilla-Noarbe, I. Smith, M. Smith, R.C. Suchyta, E. Swanson, M.E.C. Tarle, G. Thomas, D. Thomas, R.C. Troxel, M.A. Vikram, V. Wechsler, R.H. Weller, J. We present the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) discovery of the optical counterpart of the first binary neutron star merger detected through gravitational wave emission, GW170817. Our observations commenced 10.5 hours post-merger, as soon as the localization region became accessible from Chile. We imaged 70 deg2 in the i and z bands, covering 93% of the initial integrated localization probability, to a depth necessary to identify likely optical counterparts (e.g., a kilonova). At 11.4 hours post-merger we detected a bright optical transient located 10:600 from the nucleus of NGC4993 at redshift z = 0:0098, consistent (for H0 = 70 km s-1 Mpc-1) with the distance of 40±8 Mpc reported by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and the Virgo Collaboration (LVC). At detection the transient had magnitudes i=17.3 and z=17.4, and thus an absolute magnitude of Mi = -15.7, in the luminosity range expected for a kilonova. We identified 1,500 potential transient candidates. Applying simple selection criteria aimed at rejecting background events such as supernovae, we find the transient associated with NGC4993 as the only remaining plausible counterpart, and reject chance coincidence at the 99.5% confidence level. We therefore conclude that the optical counterpart we have identified near NGC4993 is associated with GW170817. This discovery ushers in the era of multi-messenger astronomy with gravitational waves, and demonstrates the power of DECam to identify the optical counterparts of gravitational-wave sources. American Astronomical Society 2017-10-16 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47904/1/Soares-Santos_2017_ApJL_848_L16.pdf Soares-Santos, M., Holz, D.E., Annis, J., Chornock, R., Herner, K., Berger, E., Brout, D., Chen, H.-Y., Kessler, R., Sako, M., Allam, S., Tucker, DL., Butler, R. E., Palmese, A., Doctor, Z., Diehl, H.T., Frieman, J., Yanny, B., Lin, H., Scolnic, D., Cowperthwaite, P., Neilsen, E., Marriner, J., Kuropatkin, N., Hartley, W.G., Paz-Chinchón, F., Alexander, K.D., Balbinot, E., Blanchard, P., Brown, D.A., Carlin, J.L., Conselice, Christopher J., Cook, E.R., Drlica-Wagner, A., Drout, M.R., Durret, F., Eftekhari, T., Farr, B., Finley, D.A., Foley, R.J., Fong, W., Fryer, C.L., García-Bellido, J., Gill, M.S.S., Gruendl, R.A., Hanna, C., Kasen, D., Li, T.S., Lopes, P.A.A., Lourenço, A.C.C., Margutti, R., Marshall, J.L., Matheson, T., Medina, G.E., Metzger, B.D., Muñoz, R.R., Muir, J., Nicholl, M., Quataert, E., Rest, A., Sauseda, M., Schlegel, D.J., Secco, L.F., Sobreira, F., Stebbins, A., Villar, V.A., Vivas, K., Walker, A.R., Wester, W., Williams, P.K.G., Zenteno, A., Zhang, Y., Abbott, T.M.C., Abdalla, F.B., Banerji, M., Bechtol, K., Benoit-Lévy, A., Bertin, E., Brooks, D., Buckley-Geer, E., Burke, D.L., Rosell, A. Carnero, Kind, M. Carrasco, Carretero, J., Castander, F.J., Crocce, M., Cunha, C.E., D’Andrea, C.B., Costa, L.N. da, Davis, C., Desai, S., Dietrich, J.P., Doel, P., Eifler, T.F., Fernandez, E., Flaugher, B., Fosalba, P., Gaztanaga, E., Gerdes, D.W., Giannantonio, T., Goldstein, D.A., Gruen, D., Gschwend, J., Gutierrez, G., Honscheid, K., Jain, B., James, D.J., Jeltema, T., Johnson, M.W.G., Johnson, M.D., Kent, S., Krause, E., Kron, R., Kuehn, K., Kuhlmann, S., Lahav, O., Lima, M., Maia, M.A.G., March, M., McMahon, R.G., Menanteau, F., Miquel, R., Mohr, J.J., Nichol, R.C., Nord, B., Ogando, R.L C., Petravick, D., Plazas, A.A., Romer, A.K., Roodman, A., Rykoff, E.S., Sanchez, E., Scarpine, V., Schubnell, M., Sevilla-Noarbe, I., Smith, M., Smith, R.C., Suchyta, E., Swanson, M.E.C., Tarle, G., Thomas, D., Thomas, R.C., Troxel, M.A., Vikram, V., Wechsler, R.H. and Weller, J. (2017) The electromagnetic counterpart of the binary neutron star merger LIGO/Virgo GW170817. I. Discovery of the optical counterpart using the Dark Energy Camera. Astrophysical Journal Letters, 848 (2). pp. 1-7. ISSN 2041-8213 binaries: close— catalogs— gravitational waves — stars: neutron— surveys http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/aa9059/meta doi:10.3847/2041-8213/aa9059 doi:10.3847/2041-8213/aa9059
spellingShingle	binaries: close— catalogs— gravitational waves — stars: neutron— surveys Soares-Santos, M. Holz, D.E. Annis, J. Chornock, R. Herner, K. Berger, E. Brout, D. Chen, H.-Y. Kessler, R. Sako, M. Allam, S. Tucker, DL. Butler, R. E. Palmese, A. Doctor, Z. Diehl, H.T. Frieman, J. Yanny, B. Lin, H. Scolnic, D. Cowperthwaite, P. Neilsen, E. Marriner, J. Kuropatkin, N. Hartley, W.G. Paz-Chinchón, F. Alexander, K.D. Balbinot, E. Blanchard, P. Brown, D.A. Carlin, J.L. Conselice, Christopher J. Cook, E.R. Drlica-Wagner, A. Drout, M.R. Durret, F. Eftekhari, T. Farr, B. Finley, D.A. Foley, R.J. Fong, W. Fryer, C.L. García-Bellido, J. Gill, M.S.S. Gruendl, R.A. Hanna, C. Kasen, D. Li, T.S. Lopes, P.A.A. Lourenço, A.C.C. Margutti, R. Marshall, J.L. Matheson, T. Medina, G.E. Metzger, B.D. Muñoz, R.R. Muir, J. Nicholl, M. Quataert, E. Rest, A. Sauseda, M. Schlegel, D.J. Secco, L.F. Sobreira, F. Stebbins, A. Villar, V.A. Vivas, K. Walker, A.R. Wester, W. Williams, P.K.G. Zenteno, A. Zhang, Y. Abbott, T.M.C. Abdalla, F.B. Banerji, M. Bechtol, K. Benoit-Lévy, A. Bertin, E. Brooks, D. Buckley-Geer, E. Burke, D.L. Rosell, A. Carnero Kind, M. Carrasco Carretero, J. Castander, F.J. Crocce, M. Cunha, C.E. D’Andrea, C.B. Costa, L.N. da Davis, C. Desai, S. Dietrich, J.P. Doel, P. Eifler, T.F. Fernandez, E. Flaugher, B. Fosalba, P. Gaztanaga, E. Gerdes, D.W. Giannantonio, T. Goldstein, D.A. Gruen, D. Gschwend, J. Gutierrez, G. Honscheid, K. Jain, B. James, D.J. Jeltema, T. Johnson, M.W.G. Johnson, M.D. Kent, S. Krause, E. Kron, R. Kuehn, K. Kuhlmann, S. Lahav, O. Lima, M. Maia, M.A.G. March, M. McMahon, R.G. Menanteau, F. Miquel, R. Mohr, J.J. Nichol, R.C. Nord, B. Ogando, R.L C. Petravick, D. Plazas, A.A. Romer, A.K. Roodman, A. Rykoff, E.S. Sanchez, E. Scarpine, V. Schubnell, M. Sevilla-Noarbe, I. Smith, M. Smith, R.C. Suchyta, E. Swanson, M.E.C. Tarle, G. Thomas, D. Thomas, R.C. Troxel, M.A. Vikram, V. Wechsler, R.H. Weller, J. The electromagnetic counterpart of the binary neutron star merger LIGO/Virgo GW170817. I. Discovery of the optical counterpart using the Dark Energy Camera
title	The electromagnetic counterpart of the binary neutron star merger LIGO/Virgo GW170817. I. Discovery of the optical counterpart using the Dark Energy Camera
title_full	The electromagnetic counterpart of the binary neutron star merger LIGO/Virgo GW170817. I. Discovery of the optical counterpart using the Dark Energy Camera
title_fullStr	The electromagnetic counterpart of the binary neutron star merger LIGO/Virgo GW170817. I. Discovery of the optical counterpart using the Dark Energy Camera
title_full_unstemmed	The electromagnetic counterpart of the binary neutron star merger LIGO/Virgo GW170817. I. Discovery of the optical counterpart using the Dark Energy Camera
title_short	The electromagnetic counterpart of the binary neutron star merger LIGO/Virgo GW170817. I. Discovery of the optical counterpart using the Dark Energy Camera
title_sort	electromagnetic counterpart of the binary neutron star merger ligo/virgo gw170817. i. discovery of the optical counterpart using the dark energy camera
topic	binaries: close— catalogs— gravitational waves — stars: neutron— surveys
url	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47904/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47904/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/47904/

The electromagnetic counterpart of the binary neutron star merger LIGO/Virgo GW170817. I. Discovery of the optical counterpart using the Dark Energy Camera

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