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

LIGO COLLABORATION; TOROS COLLABORATION; LARES, MARCELO

ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT SERIES

IOP PUBLISHING LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016

0067-0049

A gravitational-wave transient was identified in data recorded by the Advanced LIGO detectors on 2015, September 14. The event candidate, initially designated G184098 and later given the name GW150914, is described in detail elsewhere. By prior arrangement, preliminary estimates of the time, significance, and sky location of the event were shared with 62 teams of observers covering 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 gravitational wave data and present the sky position probability maps shared with observing partners. We summarize the follow-up observations reported by 22 teams via private Gamma-ray Coordinates Network Circulars, giving an overview of the participating facilities, the gravitational wave sky localization coverage, the timeline and depth of the observations. As this event turned out to be a binary black hole merger, in hindsight there is little expectation of a detectable electromagnetic signature. Nevertheless, this first broad-band campaign to search for a counterpart of an Advanced LIGO source represents a milestone and highlights the broad capabilities of the transient astronomy community and the observing strategies that have been developed to pursue neutron star binary merger events.