Abstract
ABSTRACT The presence and detectability of coherent radio emission from compact binary mergers (containing at least one neutron star) remains poorly constrained due to large uncertainties in the models. These compact binary mergers may initially be detected as short gamma-ray bursts or via their gravitational wave emission. Several radio facilities have developed rapid response modes enabling them to trigger on these events and search for this emission. For this paper, we constrain this coherent radio emission using the deepest available constraints for GRB 150424A, which were obtained via a triggered observation with the Murchison Widefield Array. We then expand this analysis to determine the properties of magnetar merger remnants that may be formed via a general population of binary neutron star mergers. Our results demonstrate that many of the potential coherent emission mechanisms that have been proposed for such events can be detected or very tightly constrained by the complementary strategies used by the current generation of low-frequency radio telescopes.
Highlights
On 2017 August 17, the inspiral and merger of two neutron stars was detected by the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory and the Advanced Virgo Gravitational-Wave Observatory
Remnant (Rowlinson et al 2013; Melandri et al 2015). These X-ray counterparts can give clues to the coherent radio emission expected from these systems, so this paper focuses on the constraints that can be made using GRB 150424A, whereas GRB 170112A was undetected in X-rays (D’Ai et al 2017)
Future gravitational wave events associated with neutron star binary mergers are going to be significantly more nearby than the cosmological GRBs discussed in Section 5.1 as the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (aLIGO)/Virgo merger horizon is 120–170 Mpc for Observing Run 3 (O3; Abbott et al 2018)
Summary
On 2017 August 17, the inspiral and merger of two neutron stars was detected by the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (aLIGO) and the Advanced Virgo Gravitational-Wave Observatory (aVirgo; Abbott et al 2017a). The first searches for prompt coherent radio emission associated with compact binary mergers were performed by targeting the known population of short gamma-ray bursts (SGRBs), which are expected to share the same progenitor. These searches were typically insufficiently sensitive (e.g. Balsano et al 1998) or potentially triggered too late following the SGRB for the given observing frequency (Bannister et al 2012). Errors are quoted at 90 per cent confidence for X-ray data and at 1σ for fits to the magnetar model
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
