Properties of the Binary Black Hole Merger GW150914

Author

Benjamin P. Abbott
Marco Cavaglia, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
For full list of authors, see publisher's website.

Abstract

On September 14, 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detected a gravitational-wave transient (GW150914); we characterize the properties of the source and its parameters. The data around the time of the event were analyzed 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 masses 36_-4⁺⁵ M_⊙ and 29_-4⁺⁴M_⊙; 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_-180⁺¹⁶⁰ Mpc, corresponding to a redshift 0.09_-0.04^+0.03 assuming standard cosmology. The source location is constrained to an annulus section of 610 deg², primarily in the southern hemisphere. The binary merges into a black hole of mass 62_-4⁺⁴M_⊙ and spin 0.67_-0.07^+0.05. This black hole is significantly more massive than any other inferred from electromagnetic observations in the stellar-mass regime.

Recommended Citation

B. P. Abbott et al., "Properties of the Binary Black Hole Merger GW150914," Physical Review Letters, vol. 116, no. 24, American Physical Society (APS), Jun 2016.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.241102

Department(s)

Physics

Keywords and Phrases

Bins; Gravitation; Gravitational effects; Gravity waves; Interferometers; Laser interferometry; Relativity; Credible interval; Electromagnetic observations; General Relativity; Laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatories; Massive black holes; Source location; Southern Hemisphere; Waveform models; Stars

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0031-9007

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Final Version

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2016 American Physical Society (APS), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jun 2016