Properties of the binary black hole merger GW150914

Abstract : On September 14, 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detected a gravitational-wave transient (GW150914); we characterise the properties of the source and its parameters. The data around the time of the event were analysed coherently across the LIGO network using a suite of accurate waveform models that describe gravitational waves from a compact binary system in general relativity. GW150914 was produced by a nearly equal mass binary black hole of $36^{+5}_{-4} M_\odot$ and $29^{+4}_{-4} M_\odot$ (for each parameter we report the median value and the range of the 90% credible interval). The dimensionless spin magnitude of the more massive black hole is bound to be $0.7$ (at 90% probability). The luminosity distance to the source is $410^{+160}_{-180}$ Mpc, corresponding to a redshift $0.09^{+0.03}_{-0.04}$ assuming standard cosmology. The source location is constrained to an annulus section of $590$ deg$^2$, primarily in the southern hemisphere. The binary merges into a black hole of $62^{+4}_{-4} M_\odot$ and spin $0.67^{+0.05}_{-0.07}$. This black hole is significantly more massive than any other known in the stellar-mass regime.
Document type :
Journal articles
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http://hal.in2p3.fr/in2p3-01274010
Contributor : Dominique Girod <>
Submitted on : Monday, February 15, 2016 - 11:13:12 AM
Last modification on : Monday, November 23, 2020 - 4:02:11 PM

Citation

B.P. Abbott, G. Cagnoli, J. Degallaix, V. Dolique, R. Flaminio, et al.. Properties of the binary black hole merger GW150914. Physical Review Letters, American Physical Society, 2016, 116 (24), pp.241102. ⟨10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.241102⟩. ⟨in2p3-01274010⟩