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Abstract
Abstract Since the first signal in 2015, the gravitational-wave detections of merging binary black holes (BBHs) by the LIGO and Virgo collaborations (LVC) have completely transformed our understanding of the lives and deaths of compact object binaries, and have motivated an enormous amount of theoretical work on the astrophysical origin of these objects. We show that the phenomenological fit to the redshift-dependent merger rate of BBHs from Abbott et al. is consistent with a purely dynamical origin for these objects, and that the current merger rate of BBHs from the LVC could be explained entirely with globular clusters alone. While this does not prove that globular clusters are the dominant formation channel, we emphasize that many formation scenarios could contribute a significant fraction of the current LVC rate, and that any analysis that assumes a single (or dominant) mechanism for producing BBH mergers is implicitly using a specious astrophysical prior.
Highlights
Over the past 5 years, the observed rate of binary black holes (BBHs) mergers in the local universe has been significantly constrained
While this does not prove that globular clusters are the dominant formation channel, we emphasize that many formation scenarios could contribute a significant fraction of the current LIGO and Virgo collaborations (LVC) rate, and that any analysis that assumes a single mechanism for producing BBH mergers is implicitly using a specious astrophysical prior
As more BBH mergers have been detected, the measured local merger rate has decreased by an order of magnitude, while sufficient numbers of higher-redshift mergers allow the slope of the rate to be observed
Summary
Over the past 5 years, the observed rate of BBH mergers in the local universe has been significantly constrained. We show that the phenomenological fit to the redshift-dependent merger rate of BBHs from Abbott et al (2020) is consistent with a purely dynamical origin for these objects, and that the current merger rate of BBHs from the LVC could be explained entirely with globular clusters alone.
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