Localization and broadband follow-up of the gravitational-wave transient GW150914

B. P. ABBOTT; R. ABBOTT; T. D. ABBOTT; M. R. A BERNATH; JUAN BAUTISTA CABRAL

Astrophysical Journal Letters

IOP Publishing for the American Astronomical Society

Año: 2016

A gravitational-wave (GW) transient was identified in data recorded by the Advanced Laser InterferometerGravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors on 2015 September 14. The event, initially designatedG184098 and later given the name GW150914, is described in detail elsewhere. By prior arrangement, preliminaryestimates of the time, significance, and sky location of the event were shared with 63 teams of observerscovering radio, optical, near-infrared, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths with ground- and space-based facilities.In this Letter we describe the low-latency analysis of the GW data and present the sky localization ofthe first observed compact binary merger. We summarize the follow-up observations reported by 25 teams viaprivate Gamma-ray Coordinates Network circulars, giving an overview of the participating facilities, the GWsky localization coverage, the timeline and depth of the observations. As this event turned out to be a binaryblack hole merger, there is little expectation of a detectable electromagnetic (EM) signature. Nevertheless, thisfirst broadband campaign to search for a counterpart of an Advanced LIGO source represents a milestone andhighlights the broad capabilities of the transient astronomy community and the observing strategies that havebeen developed to pursue neutron star binary merger events. Detailed investigations of the EM data and resultsof the EM follow-up campaign are being disseminated in papers by the individual teams.