LOFAR 144-MHz follow-up observations of GW170817

J. W. Broderick; T. W. Shimwell; K. Gourdji; A. Rowlinson; S. Nissanke; K. Hotokezaka; P. G. Jonker; C. Tasse; M. J. Hardcastle; J. B. R. Oonk; R. P. Fender; R. A. M. J. Wijers; A. Shulevski; A. J. Stewart; S. ter Veen; V. A. Moss; M. H. D. van der Wiel; D. A. Nichols; A. Piette; M. E. Bell; D. Carbone; S. Corbel; J. Eislöffel; J.-M. Grießmeier; E. F. Keane; C. J. Law; T. Muñoz-Darias; M. Pietka; M. Serylak; A. J. van der Horst; J. van Leeuwen; R. Wijnands; P. Zarka; J. M. Anderson; M. J. Bentum; R. Blaauw; W. N. Brouw; M. Brüggen; B. Ciardi; M. de Vos; S. Duscha; R. A. Fallows; T. M. O. Franzen; M. A. Garrett; A. W. Gunst; M. Hoeft; J. R. Hörandel; M. Iacobelli; E. Jütte; L. V. E. Koopmans; A. Krankowski; P. Maat; G. Mann; H. Mulder; A. Nelles; H. Paas; M. Pandey-Pommier; R. Pekal; W. Reich; H. J. A. Röttgering; D. J. Schwarz; O. Smirnov; M. Soida; M. C. Toribio; M. P. van Haarlem; R. J. van Weeren; C. Vocks; O. Wucknitz; P. Zucca

doi:10.1093/mnras/staa950

LOFAR 144-MHz follow-up observations of GW170817

J. W. Broderick, T. W. Shimwell, K. Gourdji, A. Rowlinson, S. Nissanke, K. Hotokezaka, P. G. Jonker, C. Tasse, M. J. Hardcastle, J. B. R. Oonk, R. P. Fender, R. A. M. J. Wijers, A. Shulevski, A. J. Stewart, S. ter Veen, V. A. Moss, M. H. D. van der Wiel, D. A. Nichols, A. Piette, M. E. BellD. Carbone, S. Corbel, J. Eislöffel, J.-M. Grießmeier, E. F. Keane, C. J. Law, T. Muñoz-Darias, M. Pietka, M. Serylak, A. J. van der Horst, J. van Leeuwen, R. Wijnands, P. Zarka, J. M. Anderson, M. J. Bentum, R. Blaauw, W. N. Brouw, M. Brüggen, B. Ciardi, M. de Vos, S. Duscha, R. A. Fallows, T. M. O. Franzen, M. A. Garrett, A. W. Gunst, M. Hoeft, J. R. Hörandel, M. Iacobelli, E. Jütte, L. V. E. Koopmans, A. Krankowski, P. Maat, G. Mann, H. Mulder, A. Nelles, H. Paas, M. Pandey-Pommier, R. Pekal, W. Reich, H. J. A. Röttgering, D. J. Schwarz, O. Smirnov, M. Soida, M. C. Toribio, M. P. van Haarlem, R. J. van Weeren, C. Vocks, O. Wucknitz, P. Zucca

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Abstract

We present low-radio-frequency follow-up observations of AT 2017gfo, the electromagnetic counterpart of GW170817, which was the first binary neutron star merger to be detected by Advanced LIGO-Virgo. These data, with a central frequency of 144 MHz, were obtained with LOFAR, the Low-Frequency Array. The maximum elevation of the target is just 13 ${_{.}^{\circ}}$ 7 when observed with LOFAR, making our observations particularly challenging to calibrate and significantly limiting the achievable sensitivity. On time-scales of 130-138 and 371-374 d after the merger event, we obtain 3σ upper limits for the afterglow component of 6.6 and 19.5 mJy beam-1, respectively. Using our best upper limit and previously published, contemporaneous higher frequency radio data, we place a limit on any potential steepening of the radio spectrum between 610 and 144 MHz: the two-point spectral index $\alpha ^{610}_{144} \gtrsim$ -2.5. We also show that LOFAR can detect the afterglows of future binary neutron star merger events occurring at more favourable elevations.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	5110-5117
Number of pages	8
Journal	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume	494
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa950
Publication status	Published - 1-Jun-2020

Keywords

gravitational waves
stars: neutron
radio continuum: stars

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Broderick, J. W., Shimwell, T. W., Gourdji, K., Rowlinson, A., Nissanke, S., Hotokezaka, K., Jonker, P. G., Tasse, C., Hardcastle, M. J., Oonk, J. B. R., Fender, R. P., Wijers, R. A. M. J., Shulevski, A., Stewart, A. J., ter Veen, S., Moss, V. A., van der Wiel, M. H. D., Nichols, D. A., Piette, A., ... Zucca, P. (2020). LOFAR 144-MHz follow-up observations of GW170817. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 494(4), 5110-5117. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa950

@article{e35745223857451b85b0547abdd16ade,

title = "LOFAR 144-MHz follow-up observations of GW170817",

abstract = "We present low-radio-frequency follow-up observations of AT 2017gfo, the electromagnetic counterpart of GW170817, which was the first binary neutron star merger to be detected by Advanced LIGO-Virgo. These data, with a central frequency of 144 MHz, were obtained with LOFAR, the Low-Frequency Array. The maximum elevation of the target is just 13 ${_{.}^{\circ}}$ 7 when observed with LOFAR, making our observations particularly challenging to calibrate and significantly limiting the achievable sensitivity. On time-scales of 130-138 and 371-374 d after the merger event, we obtain 3σ upper limits for the afterglow component of 6.6 and 19.5 mJy beam-1, respectively. Using our best upper limit and previously published, contemporaneous higher frequency radio data, we place a limit on any potential steepening of the radio spectrum between 610 and 144 MHz: the two-point spectral index $\alpha ^{610}_{144} \gtrsim$ -2.5. We also show that LOFAR can detect the afterglows of future binary neutron star merger events occurring at more favourable elevations.",

keywords = "gravitational waves, stars: neutron, radio continuum: stars",

author = "Broderick, {J. W.} and Shimwell, {T. W.} and K. Gourdji and A. Rowlinson and S. Nissanke and K. Hotokezaka and Jonker, {P. G.} and C. Tasse and Hardcastle, {M. J.} and Oonk, {J. B. R.} and Fender, {R. P.} and Wijers, {R. A. M. J.} and A. Shulevski and Stewart, {A. J.} and {ter Veen}, S. and Moss, {V. A.} and {van der Wiel}, {M. H. D.} and Nichols, {D. A.} and A. Piette and Bell, {M. E.} and D. Carbone and S. Corbel and J. Eisl{\"o}ffel and J.-M. Grie{\ss}meier and Keane, {E. F.} and Law, {C. J.} and T. Mu{\~n}oz-Darias and M. Pietka and M. Serylak and {van der Horst}, {A. J.} and {van Leeuwen}, J. and R. Wijnands and P. Zarka and Anderson, {J. M.} and Bentum, {M. J.} and R. Blaauw and Brouw, {W. N.} and M. Br{\"u}ggen and B. Ciardi and {de Vos}, M. and S. Duscha and Fallows, {R. A.} and Franzen, {T. M. O.} and Garrett, {M. A.} and Gunst, {A. W.} and M. Hoeft and H{\"o}randel, {J. R.} and M. Iacobelli and E. J{\"u}tte and Koopmans, {L. V. E.} and A. Krankowski and P. Maat and G. Mann and H. Mulder and A. Nelles and H. Paas and M. Pandey-Pommier and R. Pekal and W. Reich and R{\"o}ttgering, {H. J. A.} and Schwarz, {D. J.} and O. Smirnov and M. Soida and Toribio, {M. C.} and {van Haarlem}, {M. P.} and {van Weeren}, {R. J.} and C. Vocks and O. Wucknitz and P. Zucca",

year = "2020",

month = jun,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1093/mnras/staa950",

language = "English",

volume = "494",

pages = "5110--5117",

journal = "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society",

issn = "0035-8711",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "4",

}

Broderick, JW, Shimwell, TW, Gourdji, K, Rowlinson, A, Nissanke, S, Hotokezaka, K, Jonker, PG, Tasse, C, Hardcastle, MJ, Oonk, JBR, Fender, RP, Wijers, RAMJ, Shulevski, A, Stewart, AJ, ter Veen, S, Moss, VA, van der Wiel, MHD, Nichols, DA, Piette, A, Bell, ME, Carbone, D, Corbel, S, Eislöffel, J, Grießmeier, J-M, Keane, EF, Law, CJ, Muñoz-Darias, T, Pietka, M, Serylak, M, van der Horst, AJ, van Leeuwen, J, Wijnands, R, Zarka, P, Anderson, JM, Bentum, MJ, Blaauw, R, Brouw, WN, Brüggen, M, Ciardi, B, de Vos, M, Duscha, S, Fallows, RA, Franzen, TMO, Garrett, MA, Gunst, AW, Hoeft, M, Hörandel, JR, Iacobelli, M, Jütte, E, Koopmans, LVE, Krankowski, A, Maat, P, Mann, G, Mulder, H, Nelles, A, Paas, H, Pandey-Pommier, M, Pekal, R, Reich, W, Röttgering, HJA, Schwarz, DJ, Smirnov, O, Soida, M, Toribio, MC, van Haarlem, MP, van Weeren, RJ, Vocks, C, Wucknitz, O & Zucca, P 2020, 'LOFAR 144-MHz follow-up observations of GW170817', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 494, no. 4, pp. 5110-5117. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa950

TY - JOUR

T1 - LOFAR 144-MHz follow-up observations of GW170817

AU - Broderick, J. W.

AU - Shimwell, T. W.

AU - Gourdji, K.

AU - Rowlinson, A.

AU - Nissanke, S.

AU - Hotokezaka, K.

AU - Jonker, P. G.

AU - Tasse, C.

AU - Hardcastle, M. J.

AU - Oonk, J. B. R.

AU - Fender, R. P.

AU - Wijers, R. A. M. J.

AU - Shulevski, A.

AU - Stewart, A. J.

AU - ter Veen, S.

AU - Moss, V. A.

AU - van der Wiel, M. H. D.

AU - Nichols, D. A.

AU - Piette, A.

AU - Bell, M. E.

AU - Carbone, D.

AU - Corbel, S.

AU - Eislöffel, J.

AU - Grießmeier, J.-M.

AU - Keane, E. F.

AU - Law, C. J.

AU - Muñoz-Darias, T.

AU - Pietka, M.

AU - Serylak, M.

AU - van der Horst, A. J.

AU - van Leeuwen, J.

AU - Wijnands, R.

AU - Zarka, P.

AU - Anderson, J. M.

AU - Bentum, M. J.

AU - Blaauw, R.

AU - Brouw, W. N.

AU - Brüggen, M.

AU - Ciardi, B.

AU - de Vos, M.

AU - Duscha, S.

AU - Fallows, R. A.

AU - Franzen, T. M. O.

AU - Garrett, M. A.

AU - Gunst, A. W.

AU - Hoeft, M.

AU - Hörandel, J. R.

AU - Iacobelli, M.

AU - Jütte, E.

AU - Koopmans, L. V. E.

AU - Krankowski, A.

AU - Maat, P.

AU - Mann, G.

AU - Mulder, H.

AU - Nelles, A.

AU - Paas, H.

AU - Pandey-Pommier, M.

AU - Pekal, R.

AU - Reich, W.

AU - Röttgering, H. J. A.

AU - Schwarz, D. J.

AU - Smirnov, O.

AU - Soida, M.

AU - Toribio, M. C.

AU - van Haarlem, M. P.

AU - van Weeren, R. J.

AU - Vocks, C.

AU - Wucknitz, O.

AU - Zucca, P.

PY - 2020/6/1

Y1 - 2020/6/1

N2 - We present low-radio-frequency follow-up observations of AT 2017gfo, the electromagnetic counterpart of GW170817, which was the first binary neutron star merger to be detected by Advanced LIGO-Virgo. These data, with a central frequency of 144 MHz, were obtained with LOFAR, the Low-Frequency Array. The maximum elevation of the target is just 13 ${_{.}^{\circ}}$ 7 when observed with LOFAR, making our observations particularly challenging to calibrate and significantly limiting the achievable sensitivity. On time-scales of 130-138 and 371-374 d after the merger event, we obtain 3σ upper limits for the afterglow component of 6.6 and 19.5 mJy beam-1, respectively. Using our best upper limit and previously published, contemporaneous higher frequency radio data, we place a limit on any potential steepening of the radio spectrum between 610 and 144 MHz: the two-point spectral index $\alpha ^{610}_{144} \gtrsim$ -2.5. We also show that LOFAR can detect the afterglows of future binary neutron star merger events occurring at more favourable elevations.

AB - We present low-radio-frequency follow-up observations of AT 2017gfo, the electromagnetic counterpart of GW170817, which was the first binary neutron star merger to be detected by Advanced LIGO-Virgo. These data, with a central frequency of 144 MHz, were obtained with LOFAR, the Low-Frequency Array. The maximum elevation of the target is just 13 ${_{.}^{\circ}}$ 7 when observed with LOFAR, making our observations particularly challenging to calibrate and significantly limiting the achievable sensitivity. On time-scales of 130-138 and 371-374 d after the merger event, we obtain 3σ upper limits for the afterglow component of 6.6 and 19.5 mJy beam-1, respectively. Using our best upper limit and previously published, contemporaneous higher frequency radio data, we place a limit on any potential steepening of the radio spectrum between 610 and 144 MHz: the two-point spectral index $\alpha ^{610}_{144} \gtrsim$ -2.5. We also show that LOFAR can detect the afterglows of future binary neutron star merger events occurring at more favourable elevations.

KW - gravitational waves

KW - stars: neutron

KW - radio continuum: stars

U2 - 10.1093/mnras/staa950

DO - 10.1093/mnras/staa950

M3 - Article

SN - 0035-8711

VL - 494

SP - 5110

EP - 5117

JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

IS - 4

ER -