GW170608: Observation of a 19-Solar-mass Binary Black Hole Coalescence

Document #:

LIGO-P170608-v12

Document type:

P - Publications

Abstract:

On 2017 June 8 at 02:01:16.49 UTC, a gravitational-wave signal from the merger of two stellar-mass black holes was observed by the two Advanced LIGO detectors with a network signal-to-noise ratio of 13. This system is the lighest black hole binary so far observed, with component masses 12+7
−2 M_☉ and 7+2
−2 M_☉ (90% credible intervals). These lie in the range of measured black hole masses in low-mass X-ray binaries, thus allowing us to compare black holes detected through gravitational waves with electromagnetic observations. The source's luminosity distance is 340+140
−140 M_☉ Mpc, corresponding to redshift 0.07+0.03
−0.03 M_☉. We verify that the signal waveform is consistent with the predictions of general relativity.

Files in Document:

• GW170608.pdf (1.4 MB)

Topics:

• Compact Binaries

Author Groups:

• LVC

Keywords:

gw170608 gravitational-waves black holes detection BBH

Related Documents:

• LIGO-G1702257: GW170608 Factsheet

Referenced by:

• LIGO-G1702263-v1: GW170608 sky localization
• LIGO-P170814-v15: GW170814 : A Three-Detector Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Coalescence

Journal References:

Published in ApJ Letters vol. 851 pg. L35.