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Kilonova Luminosity Function Constraints Based on Zwicky Transient Facility Searches for 13 Neutron Star Merger Triggers during O3
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Number of Authors: 1032020 (English)In: Astrophysical Journal, ISSN 0004-637X, E-ISSN 1538-4357, Vol. 905, no 2, article id 145Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

We present a systematic search for optical counterparts to 13 gravitational wave (GW) triggers involving at least one neutron star during LIGO/Virgo's third observing run (O3). We searched binary neutron star (BNS) and neutron star black hole (NSBH) merger localizations with the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) and undertook follow-up with the Global Relay of Observatories Watching Transients Happen (GROWTH) collaboration. The GW triggers had a median localization area of 4480 deg(2), a median distance of 267 Mpc, and false-alarm rates ranging from 1.5 to 10(-25) yr(-1). The ZTF coverage in the g and r bands had a median enclosed probability of 39%, median depth of 20.8 mag, and median time lag between merger and the start of observations of 1.5 hr. The O3 follow-up by the GROWTH team comprised 340 UltraViolet/Optical/InfraRed (UVOIR) photometric points, 64 OIR spectra, and three radio images using 17 different telescopes. We find no promising kilonovae (radioactivity-powered counterparts), and we show how to convert the upper limits to constrain the underlying kilonova luminosity function. Initially, we assume that all GW triggers are bona fide astrophysical events regardless of false-alarm rate and that kilonovae accompanying BNS and NSBH mergers are drawn from a common population; later, we relax these assumptions. Assuming that all kilonovae are at least as luminous as the discovery magnitude of GW170817 (-16.1 mag), we calculate that our joint probability of detecting zero kilonovae is only 4.2%. If we assume that all kilonovae are brighter than -16.6 mag (the extrapolated peak magnitude of GW170817) and fade at a rate of 1 mag day(-1) (similar to GW170817), the joint probability of zero detections is 7%. If we separate the NSBH and BNS populations based on the online classifications, the joint probability of zero detections, assuming all kilonovae are brighter than -16.6 mag, is 9.7% for NSBH and 7.9% for BNS mergers. Moreover, no more than <57% (<89%) of putative kilonovae could be brighter than -16.6 mag assuming flat evolution (fading by 1 mag day(-1)) at the 90% confidence level. If we further take into account the online terrestrial probability for each GW trigger, we find that no more than <68% of putative kilonovae could be brighter than -16.6 mag. Comparing to model grids, we find that some kilonovae must have M-ej M, X-lan > 10(-4), or > 30 degrees to be consistent with our limits. We look forward to searches in the fourth GW observing run; even 17 neutron star mergers with only 50% coverage to a depth of -16 mag would constrain the maximum fraction of bright kilonovae to <25%.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2020. Vol. 905, no 2, article id 145
Keywords [en]
Neutron stars, Black holes, Gravitational waves, Nucleosynthesis, R-process, Compact objects, Spectroscopy, Sky surveys, Photometry
National Category
Physical Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-190704DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/abc335ISI: 000601131100001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85098843161OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-190704DiVA, id: diva2:1532629
Available from: 2021-03-02 Created: 2021-03-02 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)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2024-05-06 Created: 2024-04-11 Last updated: 2024-04-25Bibliographically approved

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Stein, RobertSagués Carracedo, AnaCoughlin, Michael W.Kool, Erik C.Kumar, HarshAlMualla, MouzaBulla, MattiaSollerman, JesperGoobar, ArielCaballero-García, Maria D.Feeney, MichaelKumar, BrajeshValeev, Azamat F.

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Stein, RobertSagués Carracedo, AnaCoughlin, Michael W.Kool, Erik C.Kumar, HarshAlMualla, MouzaBulla, MattiaSollerman, JesperGoobar, ArielCaballero-García, Maria D.Feeney, MichaelKumar, BrajeshValeev, Azamat F.
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Department of PhysicsThe Oskar Klein Centre for Cosmo Particle Physics (OKC)Department of AstronomyNordic Institute for Theoretical Physics (Nordita)
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