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Constraining the Kilonova Rate with Zwicky Transient Facility Searches Independent of Gravitational Wave and Short Gamma-Ray Burst Triggers
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Astronomy. Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, The Oskar Klein Centre for Cosmo Particle Physics (OKC).
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Physics. Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, The Oskar Klein Centre for Cosmo Particle Physics (OKC).
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Number of Authors: 372020 (English)In: Astrophysical Journal, ISSN 0004-637X, E-ISSN 1538-4357, Vol. 904, no 2, article id 155Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The first binary neutron star merger, GW170817, was accompanied by a radioactivity-powered optical/infrared transient called a kilonova. To date, no compelling kilonova has been found in all-sky optical surveys, independently of short gamma-ray burst and gravitational-wave triggers. In this work, we searched the first 23 months of the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) data stream for candidate kilonovae in the form of rapidly evolving transients. We combined ZTF alert queries with forced point-spread-function photometry and nightly flux stacking to increase our sensitivity to faint and fast transients. Automatic queries yielded >11,200 candidates, 24 of which passed quality checks and selection criteria based on a grid of kilonova models tailored for both binary neutron star and neutron star-black hole mergers. None of the candidates in our sample was deemed a possible kilonova after thorough vetting. The sources that passed our selection criteria are dominated by Galactic cataclysmic variables. We identified two fast transients at high Galactic latitude, one of which is the confirmed afterglow of long-duration GRB.190106A, the other is a possible cosmological afterglow. Using a survey simulation code, we constrained the kilonova rate for a range of models including top-hat, linearly decaying light curves, and synthetic light curves obtained with radiative transfer simulations. For prototypical GW170817-like kilonovae, we constrain the rate to be R < 1775 Gpc(-3) yr(-1) (95% confidence). By assuming a population of kilonovae with the same geometry and composition of GW170817 observed under a uniform viewing angle distribution, we obtained a constraint on the rate of R.<.4029 Gpc(-3) yr(-1).

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2020. Vol. 904, no 2, article id 155
Keywords [en]
Neutron stars, Compact objects, Gravitational wave sources, Transient sources, Surveys, R-process, Optical observation, Optical bursts, Gamma-ray bursts, Cataclysmic variable stars, Gravitational wave astronomy
National Category
Physical Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-189207DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/abbf4cISI: 000594539100001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85097511525OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-189207DiVA, id: diva2:1519328
Available from: 2021-01-18 Created: 2021-01-18 Last updated: 2024-04-11Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Chasing Cosmic Rarities: Kilonovae and Gravitationally Lensed Supernovae in Optical Surveys
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Chasing Cosmic Rarities: Kilonovae and Gravitationally Lensed Supernovae in Optical Surveys
2024 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This thesis focuses on two important topics in astrophysics: the detection of kilonovae (KNe) and gravitationally lensed supernovae (glSNe) in optical surveys. In the first part, the study quantifies the impact of survey depth and choice of filters on the detection probability of KNe. The results highlight the importance of accounting for asymmetries expected for KNe, and despite several search campaigns, no KNe were detected by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). Nonetheless, non-detection studies provided meaningful constraints on the luminosity function and on the rates of KNe. The findings contribute to advancing our understanding of these rare, fast, and faint transients. I also discuss the improvements in measuring the Hubble constant with follow-up data of KNe, including broadband photometry and spectrophotometric data from the upcoming IFU instrument MAAT. 

The second part of the thesis focuses on gravitationally lensed supernovae. The ZTF survey was expected to detect more than one strongly lensed supernova per year, but only one was identified in the first five years. The study presents simulations of lightcurves for lensed supernovae and new rates based on realistic survey simulations for ZTF. Optimal cuts to distinguish lensed supernovae from normal unlensed supernovae are also provided. The thesis discusses time delay and lightcurve modeling for the one event found during ZTF, SN Zwicky, and the lessons learned from it.

The techniques developed in this thesis can be applied to future surveys to increase the detection rate of KNe and glSNe. These events and their underlying physics provide valuable insights in cosmology.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Physics, Stockholm University, 2024. p. 80
Keywords
supernova, strong gravitational lensing, kilonova, gravitational waves, optical surveys
National Category
Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
Research subject
Physics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-228303 (URN)978-91-8014-765-1 (ISBN)978-91-8014-766-8 (ISBN)
Public defence
2024-05-30, lärosal 4, hus 1, Albano, Albanovägen 28, Stockholm, 13:00 (English)
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Supervisors
Available from: 2024-05-06 Created: 2024-04-11 Last updated: 2024-04-25Bibliographically approved

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Andreoni, IgorKool, Erik C.Sagués Carracedo, AnaBulla, MattiaAhumada, TomásCoughlin, Michael W.Sollerman, JesperGoobar, Ariel

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Andreoni, IgorKool, Erik C.Sagués Carracedo, AnaBulla, MattiaAhumada, TomásCoughlin, Michael W.Sollerman, JesperGoobar, Ariel
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Department of AstronomyThe Oskar Klein Centre for Cosmo Particle Physics (OKC)Department of PhysicsNordic Institute for Theoretical Physics (Nordita)
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