Low-Γ jets from Compact Binary Mergers as Candidate Electromagnetic Counterparts to Gravitational Wave Sources
Abstract
Compact binary mergers, with neutron stars or neutron star and black-hole components, are thought to produce various electromagnetic counterparts: short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) from ultra-relativistic jets followed by broadband afterglow; semi-isotropic kilonova from radioactive decay of r-process elements; and late time radio flares; etc. If the jets from such mergers follow a similar power-law distribution of Lorentz factors as other astrophysical jets then the population of merger jets will be dominated by low-Γ values. The prompt gamma-rays associated with short GRBs would be suppressed for a low-Γ jet and the jet energy will be released as X-ray/optical/radio transients when a shock forms in the ambient medium. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we study the properties of such transients as candidate electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave sources detectable by LIGO/Virgo. Approximately 78% of merger-jets result in failed GRB with optical peaks 14-22 magnitude and an all-sky rate of 2-3 per year.
- Publication:
-
New Frontiers in Black Hole Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- 2017
- DOI:
- 10.1017/S174392131601228X
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1610.01419
- Bibcode:
- 2017IAUS..324...66L
- Keywords:
-
- gamma rays: bursts;
- jets and outflows;
- gravitational waves;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
- E-Print:
- 4 pages, 2 figures. Submitted to Proceedings of IAU Symposium 324 (New Frontiers in Black Hole Astrophysics)