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.

Ghirlanda, G., Salafia, O., Paragi, Z., Giroletti, M., Yang, J., Marcote, B., et al. (2019). Compact radio emission indicates a structured jet was produced by a binary neutron star merger. SCIENCE, 363(6430), 968-971 [10.1126/science.aau8815].

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

Ghirlanda G.
;
Salafia O. S.
;
Casadio C.;Colpi M.;D'Avanzo P.;Frey S.;Ghisellini G.;
2019

Abstract

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.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Astrophysical Jets, Gamma Ray Bursts, Very Long Baseline Interferometry, Gravitational Waves, Kilonova
English
1-mar-2019
2019
363
6430
968
971
partially_open
Ghirlanda, G., Salafia, O., Paragi, Z., Giroletti, M., Yang, J., Marcote, B., et al. (2019). Compact radio emission indicates a structured jet was produced by a binary neutron star merger. SCIENCE, 363(6430), 968-971 [10.1126/science.aau8815].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/268217
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