A Dark Energy Camera search for an optical counterpart to the first advanced LIGO gravitational wave event GW150914

M. Soares-Santos; R. Kessler; E. Berger; J. Annis; D. Brout; E. Buckley-Geer; H. Chen; P. S. Cowperthwaite; H. T. Diehl; Z. Doctor; A. Drlica-Wagner; B. Farr; D. A. Finley; B. Flaugher; R. J. Foley; J. Frieman; R. A. Gruendl; K. Herner; D. Holz; H. Lin; J. Marriner; E. Neilsen; A. Rest; M. Sako; D. Scolnic; F. Sobreira; A. R. Walker; W. Wester; B. Yanny; T. M. C. Abbott; F. B. Abdalla; F. B. Abdalla; S. Allam; R. Armstrong; M. Banerji; A. Benoit-Lévy; R. A. Bernstein; E. Bertin; D. A. Brown; D. L. Burke; D. Capozzi; A. Carnero Rosell; M. Carrasco Kind; J. Carretero; F. J. Castander; S. B. Cenko; R. Chornock; M. Crocce; C. B. D'Andrea; C. B. D'Andrea; L. N. da Costa; S. Desai; J. P. Dietrich; M. R. Drout; T. F. Eifler; J. Estrada; A. E. Evrard; S. Fairhurst; E. Fernandez; J. Fischer; W. Fong; P. Fosalba; D. B. Fox; C. L. Fryer; J. Garcia-Bellido; E. Gaztanaga; D. W. Gerdes; D. A. Goldstein; D. Gruen; G. Gutierrez; K. Honscheid; D. J. James; I. Karliner; D. Kasen; S. Kent; N. Kuropatkin; K. Kuehn; O. Lahav; T. S. Li; M. Lima; M. A. G. Maia; R. Margutti; P. Martini; T. Matheson; R. G. McMahon; B. D. Metzger; C. J. Miller; R. Miquel; J. J. Mohr; R. C. Nichol; B. Nord; R. Ogando; J. Peoples; A. A. Plazas; E. Quataert; A. K. Romer; A. Roodman; E. S. Rykoff; E. Sanchez; V. Scarpine; R. Schindler; M. Schubnell; I. Sevilla-Noarbe; E. Sheldon; M. Smith; N. Smith; R. C. Smith; A. Stebbins; P. J. Sutton; M. E. C. Swanson; G. Tarle; J. Thaler; R. C. Thomas; D. L. Tucker; V. Vikram; R. H. Wechsler; J. Weller

doi:10.3847/2041-8205/823/2/L33

A Dark Energy Camera search for an optical counterpart to the first advanced LIGO gravitational wave event GW150914

M. Soares-Santos, R. Kessler, E. Berger, J. Annis, D. Brout, E. Buckley-Geer, H. Chen, P. S. Cowperthwaite, H. T. Diehl, Z. Doctor, A. Drlica-Wagner, B. Farr, D. A. Finley, B. Flaugher, R. J. Foley, J. Frieman, R. A. Gruendl, K. Herner, D. Holz, H. LinJ. Marriner, E. Neilsen, A. Rest, M. Sako, D. Scolnic, F. Sobreira, A. R. Walker, W. Wester, B. Yanny, T. M. C. Abbott, F. B. Abdalla, F. B. Abdalla, S. Allam, R. Armstrong, M. Banerji, A. Benoit-Lévy, R. A. Bernstein, E. Bertin, D. A. Brown, D. L. Burke, D. Capozzi, A. Carnero Rosell, M. Carrasco Kind, J. Carretero, F. J. Castander, S. B. Cenko, R. Chornock, M. Crocce, C. B. D'Andrea, C. B. D'Andrea, L. N. da Costa, S. Desai, J. P. Dietrich, M. R. Drout, T. F. Eifler, J. Estrada, A. E. Evrard, S. Fairhurst, E. Fernandez, J. Fischer, W. Fong, P. Fosalba, D. B. Fox, C. L. Fryer, J. Garcia-Bellido, E. Gaztanaga, D. W. Gerdes, D. A. Goldstein, D. Gruen, G. Gutierrez, K. Honscheid, D. J. James, I. Karliner, D. Kasen, S. Kent, N. Kuropatkin, K. Kuehn, O. Lahav, T. S. Li, M. Lima, M. A. G. Maia, R. Margutti, P. Martini, T. Matheson, R. G. McMahon, B. D. Metzger, C. J. Miller, R. Miquel, J. J. Mohr, R. C. Nichol, B. Nord, R. Ogando, J. Peoples, A. A. Plazas, E. Quataert, A. K. Romer, A. Roodman, E. S. Rykoff, E. Sanchez, V. Scarpine, R. Schindler, M. Schubnell, I. Sevilla-Noarbe, E. Sheldon, M. Smith, N. Smith, R. C. Smith, A. Stebbins, P. J. Sutton, M. E. C. Swanson, G. Tarle, J. Thaler, R. C. Thomas, D. L. Tucker, V. Vikram, R. H. Wechsler, J. Weller

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Abstract

We report initial results of a deep search for an optical counterpart to the gravitational wave event GW150914, the first trigger from the Advanced LIGO gravitational wave detectors. We used the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) to image a 102 deg² area, corresponding to 38% of the initial trigger high-probability sky region and to 11% of the revised high-probability region. We observed in i and z bands at 4-5, 7, and 24 days after the trigger. The median 5σ point-source limiting magnitudes of our search images are i=22.5 and z=21.8 mag. We processed the images through a difference-imaging pipeline using templates from pre-existing Dark Energy Survey data and publicly available DECam data. Due to missing template observations and other losses, our effective search area subtends 40 deg², corresponding to 12% total probability in the initial map and 3% of the final map. In this area, we search for objects that decline significantly between days 4-5 and day 7, and are undetectable by day 24, finding none to typical magnitude limits of i= 21.5,21.1,20.1 for object colors (i-z)=1,0,-1, respectively. Our search demonstrates the feasibility of a dedicated search program with DECam and bodes well for future research in this emerging field.

Original language	English
Article number	L33
Number of pages	6
Journal	Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume	823
Issue number	2
Early online date	27 May 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8205/823/2/L33
Publication status	Published - 1 Jun 2016

Keywords

astro-ph.CO
astro-ph.IM
RCUK
STFC
binaries: close
catalogs
gravitational waves
stars: neutron
surveys

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10.3847/2041-8205/823/2/L33

Soares-Santos_2016_ApJL_823_L33
M. Soares-Santos et.al. 'A Dark Energy Camera search for an optical counterpart to the first Advanced LIGO gravitational wave event GW150914'. Astrophysical Journal Letters, 823(2), L33. © 2016 The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission of the AAS.
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Soares-Santos, M., Kessler, R., Berger, E., Annis, J., Brout, D., Buckley-Geer, E., Chen, H., Cowperthwaite, P. S., Diehl, H. T., Doctor, Z., Drlica-Wagner, A., Farr, B., Finley, D. A., Flaugher, B., Foley, R. J., Frieman, J., Gruendl, R. A., Herner, K., Holz, D., ... Weller, J. (2016). A Dark Energy Camera search for an optical counterpart to the first advanced LIGO gravitational wave event GW150914. Astrophysical Journal Letters, 823(2), Article L33. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8205/823/2/L33

@article{2bc65f4187cd4de28c2861ce6cc7b44b,

title = "A Dark Energy Camera search for an optical counterpart to the first advanced LIGO gravitational wave event GW150914",

abstract = "We report initial results of a deep search for an optical counterpart to the gravitational wave event GW150914, the first trigger from the Advanced LIGO gravitational wave detectors. We used the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) to image a 102 deg2 area, corresponding to 38% of the initial trigger high-probability sky region and to 11% of the revised high-probability region. We observed in i and z bands at 4-5, 7, and 24 days after the trigger. The median 5σ point-source limiting magnitudes of our search images are i=22.5 and z=21.8 mag. We processed the images through a difference-imaging pipeline using templates from pre-existing Dark Energy Survey data and publicly available DECam data. Due to missing template observations and other losses, our effective search area subtends 40 deg2, corresponding to 12% total probability in the initial map and 3% of the final map. In this area, we search for objects that decline significantly between days 4-5 and day 7, and are undetectable by day 24, finding none to typical magnitude limits of i= 21.5,21.1,20.1 for object colors (i-z)=1,0,-1, respectively. Our search demonstrates the feasibility of a dedicated search program with DECam and bodes well for future research in this emerging field.",

keywords = "astro-ph.CO, astro-ph.IM, RCUK, STFC, binaries: close, catalogs, gravitational waves, stars: neutron, surveys",

author = "M. Soares-Santos and R. Kessler and E. Berger and J. Annis and D. Brout and E. Buckley-Geer and H. Chen and Cowperthwaite, {P. S.} and Diehl, {H. T.} and Z. Doctor and A. Drlica-Wagner and B. Farr and Finley, {D. A.} and B. Flaugher and Foley, {R. J.} and J. Frieman and Gruendl, {R. A.} and K. Herner and D. Holz and H. Lin and J. Marriner and E. Neilsen and A. Rest and M. Sako and D. Scolnic and F. Sobreira and Walker, {A. R.} and W. Wester and B. Yanny and Abbott, {T. M. C.} and Abdalla, {F. B.} and Abdalla, {F. B.} and S. Allam and R. Armstrong and M. Banerji and A. Benoit-L{\'e}vy and Bernstein, {R. A.} and E. Bertin and Brown, {D. A.} and Burke, {D. L.} and D. Capozzi and Rosell, {A. Carnero} and Kind, {M. Carrasco} and J. Carretero and Castander, {F. J.} and Cenko, {S. B.} and R. Chornock and M. Crocce and D'Andrea, {C. B.} and D'Andrea, {C. B.} and Costa, {L. N. da} and S. Desai and Dietrich, {J. P.} and Drout, {M. R.} and Eifler, {T. F.} and J. Estrada and Evrard, {A. E.} and S. Fairhurst and E. Fernandez and J. Fischer and W. Fong and P. Fosalba and Fox, {D. B.} and Fryer, {C. L.} and J. Garcia-Bellido and E. Gaztanaga and Gerdes, {D. W.} and Goldstein, {D. A.} and D. Gruen and G. Gutierrez and K. Honscheid and James, {D. J.} and I. Karliner and D. Kasen and S. Kent and N. Kuropatkin and K. Kuehn and O. Lahav and Li, {T. S.} and M. Lima and Maia, {M. A. G.} and R. Margutti and P. Martini and T. Matheson and McMahon, {R. G.} and Metzger, {B. D.} and Miller, {C. J.} and R. Miquel and Mohr, {J. J.} and Nichol, {R. C.} and B. Nord and R. Ogando and J. Peoples and Plazas, {A. A.} and E. Quataert and Romer, {A. K.} and A. Roodman and Rykoff, {E. S.} and E. Sanchez and V. Scarpine and R. Schindler and M. Schubnell and I. Sevilla-Noarbe and E. Sheldon and M. Smith and N. Smith and Smith, {R. C.} and A. Stebbins and Sutton, {P. J.} and Swanson, {M. E. C.} and G. Tarle and J. Thaler and Thomas, {R. C.} and Tucker, {D. L.} and V. Vikram and Wechsler, {R. H.} and J. Weller",

note = "6 pages, 1 figure. Updated references. Submitted to ApJL",

year = "2016",

month = jun,

day = "1",

doi = "10.3847/2041-8205/823/2/L33",

language = "English",

volume = "823",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal Letters",

issn = "2041-8205",

publisher = "IOP Publishing",

number = "2",

}

Soares-Santos, M, Kessler, R, Berger, E, Annis, J, Brout, D, Buckley-Geer, E, Chen, H, Cowperthwaite, PS, Diehl, HT, Doctor, Z, Drlica-Wagner, A, Farr, B, Finley, DA, Flaugher, B, Foley, RJ, Frieman, J, Gruendl, RA, Herner, K, Holz, D, Lin, H, Marriner, J, Neilsen, E, Rest, A, Sako, M, Scolnic, D, Sobreira, F, Walker, AR, Wester, W, Yanny, B, Abbott, TMC, Abdalla, FB, Abdalla, FB, Allam, S, Armstrong, R, Banerji, M, Benoit-Lévy, A, Bernstein, RA, Bertin, E, Brown, DA, Burke, DL, Capozzi, D, Rosell, AC, Kind, MC, Carretero, J, Castander, FJ, Cenko, SB, Chornock, R, Crocce, M, D'Andrea, CB, D'Andrea, CB, Costa, LND, Desai, S, Dietrich, JP, Drout, MR, Eifler, TF, Estrada, J, Evrard, AE, Fairhurst, S, Fernandez, E, Fischer, J, Fong, W, Fosalba, P, Fox, DB, Fryer, CL, Garcia-Bellido, J, Gaztanaga, E, Gerdes, DW, Goldstein, DA, Gruen, D, Gutierrez, G, Honscheid, K, James, DJ, Karliner, I, Kasen, D, Kent, S, Kuropatkin, N, Kuehn, K, Lahav, O, Li, TS, Lima, M, Maia, MAG, Margutti, R, Martini, P, Matheson, T, McMahon, RG, Metzger, BD, Miller, CJ, Miquel, R, Mohr, JJ, Nichol, RC, Nord, B, Ogando, R, Peoples, J, Plazas, AA, Quataert, E, Romer, AK, Roodman, A, Rykoff, ES, Sanchez, E, Scarpine, V, Schindler, R, Schubnell, M, Sevilla-Noarbe, I, Sheldon, E, Smith, M, Smith, N, Smith, RC, Stebbins, A, Sutton, PJ, Swanson, MEC, Tarle, G, Thaler, J, Thomas, RC, Tucker, DL, Vikram, V, Wechsler, RH & Weller, J 2016, 'A Dark Energy Camera search for an optical counterpart to the first advanced LIGO gravitational wave event GW150914', Astrophysical Journal Letters, vol. 823, no. 2, L33. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8205/823/2/L33

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Dark Energy Camera search for an optical counterpart to the first advanced LIGO gravitational wave event GW150914

AU - Soares-Santos, M.

AU - Kessler, R.

AU - Berger, E.

AU - Annis, J.

AU - Brout, D.

AU - Buckley-Geer, E.

AU - Chen, H.

AU - Cowperthwaite, P. S.

AU - Diehl, H. T.

AU - Doctor, Z.

AU - Drlica-Wagner, A.

AU - Farr, B.

AU - Finley, D. A.

AU - Flaugher, B.

AU - Foley, R. J.

AU - Frieman, J.

AU - Gruendl, R. A.

AU - Herner, K.

AU - Holz, D.

AU - Lin, H.

AU - Marriner, J.

AU - Neilsen, E.

AU - Rest, A.

AU - Sako, M.

AU - Scolnic, D.

AU - Sobreira, F.

AU - Walker, A. R.

AU - Wester, W.

AU - Yanny, B.

AU - Abbott, T. M. C.

AU - Abdalla, F. B.

AU - Allam, S.

AU - Armstrong, R.

AU - Banerji, M.

AU - Benoit-Lévy, A.

AU - Bernstein, R. A.

AU - Bertin, E.

AU - Brown, D. A.

AU - Burke, D. L.

AU - Capozzi, D.

AU - Rosell, A. Carnero

AU - Kind, M. Carrasco

AU - Carretero, J.

AU - Castander, F. J.

AU - Cenko, S. B.

AU - Chornock, R.

AU - Crocce, M.

AU - D'Andrea, C. B.

AU - Costa, L. N. da

AU - Desai, S.

AU - Dietrich, J. P.

AU - Drout, M. R.

AU - Eifler, T. F.

AU - Estrada, J.

AU - Evrard, A. E.

AU - Fairhurst, S.

AU - Fernandez, E.

AU - Fischer, J.

AU - Fong, W.

AU - Fosalba, P.

AU - Fox, D. B.

AU - Fryer, C. L.

AU - Garcia-Bellido, J.

AU - Gaztanaga, E.

AU - Gerdes, D. W.

AU - Goldstein, D. A.

AU - Gruen, D.

AU - Gutierrez, G.

AU - Honscheid, K.

AU - James, D. J.

AU - Karliner, I.

AU - Kasen, D.

AU - Kent, S.

AU - Kuropatkin, N.

AU - Kuehn, K.

AU - Lahav, O.

AU - Li, T. S.

AU - Lima, M.

AU - Maia, M. A. G.

AU - Margutti, R.

AU - Martini, P.

AU - Matheson, T.

AU - McMahon, R. G.

AU - Metzger, B. D.

AU - Miller, C. J.

AU - Miquel, R.

AU - Mohr, J. J.

AU - Nichol, R. C.

AU - Nord, B.

AU - Ogando, R.

AU - Peoples, J.

AU - Plazas, A. A.

AU - Quataert, E.

AU - Romer, A. K.

AU - Roodman, A.

AU - Rykoff, E. S.

AU - Sanchez, E.

AU - Scarpine, V.

AU - Schindler, R.

AU - Schubnell, M.

AU - Sevilla-Noarbe, I.

AU - Sheldon, E.

AU - Smith, M.

AU - Smith, N.

AU - Smith, R. C.

AU - Stebbins, A.

AU - Sutton, P. J.

AU - Swanson, M. E. C.

AU - Tarle, G.

AU - Thaler, J.

AU - Thomas, R. C.

AU - Tucker, D. L.

AU - Vikram, V.

AU - Wechsler, R. H.

AU - Weller, J.

N1 - 6 pages, 1 figure. Updated references. Submitted to ApJL

PY - 2016/6/1

Y1 - 2016/6/1

N2 - We report initial results of a deep search for an optical counterpart to the gravitational wave event GW150914, the first trigger from the Advanced LIGO gravitational wave detectors. We used the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) to image a 102 deg2 area, corresponding to 38% of the initial trigger high-probability sky region and to 11% of the revised high-probability region. We observed in i and z bands at 4-5, 7, and 24 days after the trigger. The median 5σ point-source limiting magnitudes of our search images are i=22.5 and z=21.8 mag. We processed the images through a difference-imaging pipeline using templates from pre-existing Dark Energy Survey data and publicly available DECam data. Due to missing template observations and other losses, our effective search area subtends 40 deg2, corresponding to 12% total probability in the initial map and 3% of the final map. In this area, we search for objects that decline significantly between days 4-5 and day 7, and are undetectable by day 24, finding none to typical magnitude limits of i= 21.5,21.1,20.1 for object colors (i-z)=1,0,-1, respectively. Our search demonstrates the feasibility of a dedicated search program with DECam and bodes well for future research in this emerging field.

AB - We report initial results of a deep search for an optical counterpart to the gravitational wave event GW150914, the first trigger from the Advanced LIGO gravitational wave detectors. We used the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) to image a 102 deg2 area, corresponding to 38% of the initial trigger high-probability sky region and to 11% of the revised high-probability region. We observed in i and z bands at 4-5, 7, and 24 days after the trigger. The median 5σ point-source limiting magnitudes of our search images are i=22.5 and z=21.8 mag. We processed the images through a difference-imaging pipeline using templates from pre-existing Dark Energy Survey data and publicly available DECam data. Due to missing template observations and other losses, our effective search area subtends 40 deg2, corresponding to 12% total probability in the initial map and 3% of the final map. In this area, we search for objects that decline significantly between days 4-5 and day 7, and are undetectable by day 24, finding none to typical magnitude limits of i= 21.5,21.1,20.1 for object colors (i-z)=1,0,-1, respectively. Our search demonstrates the feasibility of a dedicated search program with DECam and bodes well for future research in this emerging field.

KW - astro-ph.CO

KW - astro-ph.IM

KW - RCUK

KW - STFC

KW - binaries: close

KW - catalogs

KW - gravitational waves

KW - stars: neutron

KW - surveys

U2 - 10.3847/2041-8205/823/2/L33

DO - 10.3847/2041-8205/823/2/L33

M3 - Article

SN - 2041-8205

VL - 823

JO - Astrophysical Journal Letters

JF - Astrophysical Journal Letters

IS - 2

M1 - L33

ER -

A Dark Energy Camera search for an optical counterpart to the first advanced LIGO gravitational wave event GW150914

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Keywords

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