Illuminating gravitational waves: a concordant picture of photons from a neutron star merger

M. M. Kasliwal; E. Nakar; L. P. Singer; D. L. Kaplan; D. O. Cook; A. Van Sistine; R. M. Lau; C. Fremling; O. Gottlieb; J. E. Jencson; S. M. Adams; U. Feindt; K. Hotokezaka; S. Ghosh; D. A. Perley; P. -C. Yu; T. Piran; J. R. Allison; G. C. Anupama; A. Balasubramanian; K. W Bannister; J. Bally; J. Barnes; S. Barway; E. Bellm; V. Bhalerao; D. Bhattacharya; N. Blagorodnova; J. S. Bloom; P. R. Brady; C. Cannella; D. Chatterjee; S. B. Cenko; B. E. Cobb; C. Copperwheat; A. Corsi; K. De; D. Dobie; S. W. K. Emery; P. A. Evans; O. D. Fox; D. A. Frail; C. Frohmaier; A. Goobar; G. Hallinan; F. Harrison; G. Helou; T. Hinderer; A. Y. Q. Ho; A. Horesh; W. -H. Ip; R. Itoh; D. Kasen; H. Kim; N. P. M. Kuin; T. Kupfer; C. Lynch; K. Madsen; P. A. Mazzali; A. A. Miller; K. Mooley; T. Murphy; C. -C. Ngeow; D. Nichols; S. Nissanke; P. Nugent; E. O. Ofek; H. Qi; R. M. Quimby; S. Rosswog; F. Rusu; E. M. Sadler; P. Schmidt; J. Sollerman; I. Steele; A. R. Williamson; L. Yan; Y. Yatsu; W. Zhao

doi:10.1126/science.aap9455

Illuminating gravitational waves: a concordant picture of photons from a neutron star merger

M. M. Kasliwal, E. Nakar, L. P. Singer, D. L. Kaplan, D. O. Cook, A. Van Sistine, R. M. Lau, C. Fremling, O. Gottlieb, J. E. Jencson, S. M. Adams, U. Feindt, K. Hotokezaka, S. Ghosh, D. A. Perley, P. -C. Yu, T. Piran, J. R. Allison, G. C. Anupama, A. BalasubramanianK. W Bannister, J. Bally, J. Barnes, S. Barway, E. Bellm, V. Bhalerao, D. Bhattacharya, N. Blagorodnova, J. S. Bloom, P. R. Brady, C. Cannella, D. Chatterjee, S. B. Cenko, B. E. Cobb, C. Copperwheat, A. Corsi, K. De, D. Dobie, S. W. K. Emery, P. A. Evans, O. D. Fox, D. A. Frail, C. Frohmaier, A. Goobar, G. Hallinan, F. Harrison, G. Helou, T. Hinderer, A. Y. Q. Ho, A. Horesh, W. -H. Ip, R. Itoh, D. Kasen, H. Kim, N. P. M. Kuin, T. Kupfer, C. Lynch, K. Madsen, P. A. Mazzali, A. A. Miller, K. Mooley, T. Murphy, C. -C. Ngeow, D. Nichols, S. Nissanke, P. Nugent, E. O. Ofek, H. Qi, R. M. Quimby, S. Rosswog, F. Rusu, E. M. Sadler, P. Schmidt, J. Sollerman, I. Steele, A. R. Williamson, L. Yan, Y. Yatsu, W. Zhao

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Abstract

Merging neutron stars offer an exquisite laboratory for simultaneously studying strong-field gravity and matter in extreme environments. We establish the physical association of an electromagnetic counterpart EM170817 to gravitational waves (GW170817) detected from merging neutron stars. By synthesizing a panchromatic dataset, we demonstrate that merging neutron stars are a long-sought production site forging heavy elements by r-process nucleosynthesis. The weak gamma-rays seen in EM170817 are dissimilar to classical short gamma-ray bursts with ultra-relativistic jets. Instead, we suggest that breakout of a wide-angle, mildly-relativistic cocoon engulfing the jet elegantly explains the low-luminosity gamma-rays, the high-luminosity ultraviolet-optical-infrared and the delayed radio/X-ray emission. We posit that all merging neutron stars may lead to a wide-angle cocoon breakout; sometimes accompanied by a successful jet and sometimes a choked jet.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1559–1565
Number of pages	6
Journal	Science
Volume	358
Issue number	6370
Early online date	16 Oct 2017
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aap9455
Publication status	Published - 22 Dec 2017

Keywords

astro-ph.HE
astro-ph.GA
astro-ph.SR
gr-qc

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10.1126/science.aap9455

1710.05436v1
This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of the AAAS for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Science Journal, 'Illuminating gravitational waves: a concordant picture of photons from a neutron star merger'. Science, 358(6370), 1559-1565, 22/12/2017, doi: 10.1126/science.aap9455.
Accepted author manuscript (Post-print), 4.74 MB

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Kasliwal, M. M., Nakar, E., Singer, L. P., Kaplan, D. L., Cook, D. O., Sistine, A. V., Lau, R. M., Fremling, C., Gottlieb, O., Jencson, J. E., Adams, S. M., Feindt, U., Hotokezaka, K., Ghosh, S., Perley, D. A., Yu, P. .-C., Piran, T., Allison, J. R., Anupama, G. C., ... Zhao, W. (2017). Illuminating gravitational waves: a concordant picture of photons from a neutron star merger. Science, 358(6370), 1559–1565. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aap9455

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title = "Illuminating gravitational waves: a concordant picture of photons from a neutron star merger",

abstract = "Merging neutron stars offer an exquisite laboratory for simultaneously studying strong-field gravity and matter in extreme environments. We establish the physical association of an electromagnetic counterpart EM170817 to gravitational waves (GW170817) detected from merging neutron stars. By synthesizing a panchromatic dataset, we demonstrate that merging neutron stars are a long-sought production site forging heavy elements by r-process nucleosynthesis. The weak gamma-rays seen in EM170817 are dissimilar to classical short gamma-ray bursts with ultra-relativistic jets. Instead, we suggest that breakout of a wide-angle, mildly-relativistic cocoon engulfing the jet elegantly explains the low-luminosity gamma-rays, the high-luminosity ultraviolet-optical-infrared and the delayed radio/X-ray emission. We posit that all merging neutron stars may lead to a wide-angle cocoon breakout; sometimes accompanied by a successful jet and sometimes a choked jet.",

keywords = "astro-ph.HE, astro-ph.GA, astro-ph.SR, gr-qc",

author = "Kasliwal, {M. M.} and E. Nakar and Singer, {L. P.} and Kaplan, {D. L.} and Cook, {D. O.} and Sistine, {A. Van} and Lau, {R. M.} and C. Fremling and O. Gottlieb and Jencson, {J. E.} and Adams, {S. M.} and U. Feindt and K. Hotokezaka and S. Ghosh and Perley, {D. A.} and Yu, {P. -C.} and T. Piran and Allison, {J. R.} and Anupama, {G. C.} and A. Balasubramanian and Bannister, {K. W} and J. Bally and J. Barnes and S. Barway and E. Bellm and V. Bhalerao and D. Bhattacharya and N. Blagorodnova and Bloom, {J. S.} and Brady, {P. R.} and C. Cannella and D. Chatterjee and Cenko, {S. B.} and Cobb, {B. E.} and C. Copperwheat and A. Corsi and K. De and D. Dobie and Emery, {S. W. K.} and Evans, {P. A.} and Fox, {O. D.} and Frail, {D. A.} and C. Frohmaier and A. Goobar and G. Hallinan and F. Harrison and G. Helou and T. Hinderer and Ho, {A. Y. Q.} and A. Horesh and Ip, {W. -H.} and R. Itoh and D. Kasen and H. Kim and Kuin, {N. P. M.} and T. Kupfer and C. Lynch and K. Madsen and Mazzali, {P. A.} and Miller, {A. A.} and K. Mooley and T. Murphy and Ngeow, {C. -C.} and D. Nichols and S. Nissanke and P. Nugent and Ofek, {E. O.} and H. Qi and Quimby, {R. M.} and S. Rosswog and F. Rusu and Sadler, {E. M.} and P. Schmidt and J. Sollerman and I. Steele and Williamson, {A. R.} and L. Yan and Y. Yatsu and W. Zhao",

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month = dec,

day = "22",

doi = "10.1126/science.aap9455",

language = "English",

volume = "358",

pages = "1559–1565",

journal = "Science",

issn = "1095-9203",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

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Kasliwal, MM, Nakar, E, Singer, LP, Kaplan, DL, Cook, DO, Sistine, AV, Lau, RM, Fremling, C, Gottlieb, O, Jencson, JE, Adams, SM, Feindt, U, Hotokezaka, K, Ghosh, S, Perley, DA, Yu, P-C, Piran, T, Allison, JR, Anupama, GC, Balasubramanian, A, Bannister, KW, Bally, J, Barnes, J, Barway, S, Bellm, E, Bhalerao, V, Bhattacharya, D, Blagorodnova, N, Bloom, JS, Brady, PR, Cannella, C, Chatterjee, D, Cenko, SB, Cobb, BE, Copperwheat, C, Corsi, A, De, K, Dobie, D, Emery, SWK, Evans, PA, Fox, OD, Frail, DA, Frohmaier, C, Goobar, A, Hallinan, G, Harrison, F, Helou, G, Hinderer, T, Ho, AYQ, Horesh, A, Ip, W-H, Itoh, R, Kasen, D, Kim, H, Kuin, NPM, Kupfer, T, Lynch, C, Madsen, K, Mazzali, PA, Miller, AA, Mooley, K, Murphy, T, Ngeow, C-C, Nichols, D, Nissanke, S, Nugent, P, Ofek, EO, Qi, H, Quimby, RM, Rosswog, S, Rusu, F, Sadler, EM, Schmidt, P, Sollerman, J, Steele, I, Williamson, AR, Yan, L, Yatsu, Y & Zhao, W 2017, 'Illuminating gravitational waves: a concordant picture of photons from a neutron star merger', Science, vol. 358, no. 6370, pp. 1559–1565. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aap9455

TY - JOUR

T1 - Illuminating gravitational waves

T2 - a concordant picture of photons from a neutron star merger

AU - Kasliwal, M. M.

AU - Nakar, E.

AU - Singer, L. P.

AU - Kaplan, D. L.

AU - Cook, D. O.

AU - Sistine, A. Van

AU - Lau, R. M.

AU - Fremling, C.

AU - Gottlieb, O.

AU - Jencson, J. E.

AU - Adams, S. M.

AU - Feindt, U.

AU - Hotokezaka, K.

AU - Ghosh, S.

AU - Perley, D. A.

AU - Yu, P. -C.

AU - Piran, T.

AU - Allison, J. R.

AU - Anupama, G. C.

AU - Balasubramanian, A.

AU - Bannister, K. W

AU - Bally, J.

AU - Barnes, J.

AU - Barway, S.

AU - Bellm, E.

AU - Bhalerao, V.

AU - Bhattacharya, D.

AU - Blagorodnova, N.

AU - Bloom, J. S.

AU - Brady, P. R.

AU - Cannella, C.

AU - Chatterjee, D.

AU - Cenko, S. B.

AU - Cobb, B. E.

AU - Copperwheat, C.

AU - Corsi, A.

AU - De, K.

AU - Dobie, D.

AU - Emery, S. W. K.

AU - Evans, P. A.

AU - Fox, O. D.

AU - Frail, D. A.

AU - Frohmaier, C.

AU - Goobar, A.

AU - Hallinan, G.

AU - Harrison, F.

AU - Helou, G.

AU - Hinderer, T.

AU - Ho, A. Y. Q.

AU - Horesh, A.

AU - Ip, W. -H.

AU - Itoh, R.

AU - Kasen, D.

AU - Kim, H.

AU - Kuin, N. P. M.

AU - Kupfer, T.

AU - Lynch, C.

AU - Madsen, K.

AU - Mazzali, P. A.

AU - Miller, A. A.

AU - Mooley, K.

AU - Murphy, T.

AU - Ngeow, C. -C.

AU - Nichols, D.

AU - Nissanke, S.

AU - Nugent, P.

AU - Ofek, E. O.

AU - Qi, H.

AU - Quimby, R. M.

AU - Rosswog, S.

AU - Rusu, F.

AU - Sadler, E. M.

AU - Schmidt, P.

AU - Sollerman, J.

AU - Steele, I.

AU - Williamson, A. R.

AU - Yan, L.

AU - Yatsu, Y.

AU - Zhao, W.

PY - 2017/12/22

Y1 - 2017/12/22

N2 - Merging neutron stars offer an exquisite laboratory for simultaneously studying strong-field gravity and matter in extreme environments. We establish the physical association of an electromagnetic counterpart EM170817 to gravitational waves (GW170817) detected from merging neutron stars. By synthesizing a panchromatic dataset, we demonstrate that merging neutron stars are a long-sought production site forging heavy elements by r-process nucleosynthesis. The weak gamma-rays seen in EM170817 are dissimilar to classical short gamma-ray bursts with ultra-relativistic jets. Instead, we suggest that breakout of a wide-angle, mildly-relativistic cocoon engulfing the jet elegantly explains the low-luminosity gamma-rays, the high-luminosity ultraviolet-optical-infrared and the delayed radio/X-ray emission. We posit that all merging neutron stars may lead to a wide-angle cocoon breakout; sometimes accompanied by a successful jet and sometimes a choked jet.

AB - Merging neutron stars offer an exquisite laboratory for simultaneously studying strong-field gravity and matter in extreme environments. We establish the physical association of an electromagnetic counterpart EM170817 to gravitational waves (GW170817) detected from merging neutron stars. By synthesizing a panchromatic dataset, we demonstrate that merging neutron stars are a long-sought production site forging heavy elements by r-process nucleosynthesis. The weak gamma-rays seen in EM170817 are dissimilar to classical short gamma-ray bursts with ultra-relativistic jets. Instead, we suggest that breakout of a wide-angle, mildly-relativistic cocoon engulfing the jet elegantly explains the low-luminosity gamma-rays, the high-luminosity ultraviolet-optical-infrared and the delayed radio/X-ray emission. We posit that all merging neutron stars may lead to a wide-angle cocoon breakout; sometimes accompanied by a successful jet and sometimes a choked jet.

KW - astro-ph.HE

KW - astro-ph.GA

KW - astro-ph.SR

KW - gr-qc

UR - http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/10025005/

U2 - 10.1126/science.aap9455

DO - 10.1126/science.aap9455

M3 - Article

SN - 1095-9203

VL - 358

SP - 1559

EP - 1565

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6370

ER -

Illuminating gravitational waves: a concordant picture of photons from a neutron star merger

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