We report the observation of a coalescing compact binary with component masses 2.5–4.5 Msun and 1.2–2.0 Msun (all measurements quoted at the 90% credible level). The gravitational-wave signal GW230529_181500 was observed during the fourth observing run of the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA detector network on 2023 May 29 by the LIGO Livingston observatory. The primary component of the source has a mass less than 5 Me at 99% credibility. We cannot definitively determine from gravitational-wave data alone whether either component of the source is a neutron star or a black hole. However, given existing estimates of the maximum neutron star mass, we find the most probable interpretation of the source to be the coalescence of a neutron star with a black hole that has a mass between the most massive neutron stars and the least massive black holes observed in the Galaxy. We provisionally estimate a merger rate density of 55-+47127 Gpc-3 yr-1 for compact binary coalescences with properties similar to the source of GW230529_181500; assuming that the source is a neutron star–black hole merger, GW230529_181500-like sources may make up the majority of neutron star–black hole coalescences. The discovery of this system implies an increase in the expected rate of neutron star–black hole mergers with electromagnetic counterparts and provides further evidence for compact objects existing within the purported lower mass gap.

Abac, A., Abbott, R., Abouelfettouh, I., Acernese, F., Ackley, K., Adhicary, S., et al. (2024). Observation of Gravitational Waves from the Coalescence of a 2.5–4.5 Msun Compact Object and a Neutron Star. THE ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS, 970(2) [10.3847/2041-8213/ad5beb].

Observation of Gravitational Waves from the Coalescence of a 2.5–4.5 Msun Compact Object and a Neutron Star

Buscicchio R.;Carpinelli M.;Colombo A.;Colpi M.;Piarulli M.;Renzini A. I.;Rozza D.;Salafia O. S.;Toscani M.;
2024

Abstract

We report the observation of a coalescing compact binary with component masses 2.5–4.5 Msun and 1.2–2.0 Msun (all measurements quoted at the 90% credible level). The gravitational-wave signal GW230529_181500 was observed during the fourth observing run of the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA detector network on 2023 May 29 by the LIGO Livingston observatory. The primary component of the source has a mass less than 5 Me at 99% credibility. We cannot definitively determine from gravitational-wave data alone whether either component of the source is a neutron star or a black hole. However, given existing estimates of the maximum neutron star mass, we find the most probable interpretation of the source to be the coalescence of a neutron star with a black hole that has a mass between the most massive neutron stars and the least massive black holes observed in the Galaxy. We provisionally estimate a merger rate density of 55-+47127 Gpc-3 yr-1 for compact binary coalescences with properties similar to the source of GW230529_181500; assuming that the source is a neutron star–black hole merger, GW230529_181500-like sources may make up the majority of neutron star–black hole coalescences. The discovery of this system implies an increase in the expected rate of neutron star–black hole mergers with electromagnetic counterparts and provides further evidence for compact objects existing within the purported lower mass gap.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
gravitational waves; neutron stars; black holes; astrophysics
English
26-lug-2024
2024
970
2
L34
open
Abac, A., Abbott, R., Abouelfettouh, I., Acernese, F., Ackley, K., Adhicary, S., et al. (2024). Observation of Gravitational Waves from the Coalescence of a 2.5–4.5 Msun Compact Object and a Neutron Star. THE ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS, 970(2) [10.3847/2041-8213/ad5beb].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Abac-2024-arXiv-preprint.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: Preprint
Tipologia di allegato: Submitted Version (Pre-print)
Licenza: Creative Commons
Dimensione 4.76 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
4.76 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Abac-2024-Astrophys J Lett-VoR.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia di allegato: Publisher’s Version (Version of Record, VoR)
Licenza: Creative Commons
Dimensione 4.69 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
4.69 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/528865
Citazioni
  • Scopus 22
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
Social impact