A Joint Fermi-GBM and LIGO/Virgo Analysis of Compact Binary Mergers From the First and Second Gravitational-wave Observing Runs

Document #:

LIGO-P1900186-v16

Document type:

P - Publications

Abstract:

We present results from offline searches of Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) data for gamma-ray transients coincident with the compact binary coalescences observed by the gravitational-wave (GW) detectors Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo during their first and second observing runs. In particular, we perform follow-up for both confirmed events and low significance candidates reported in the LIGO/Virgo catalog GWTC-1. We search for temporal coincidences between these GW signals and GBM triggered gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). We also use the GBM Untargeted and Targeted subthreshold searches to find coincident gamma-rays below the on-board triggering threshold. This work implements a refined statistical approach by incorporating GW astrophysical source probabilities and GBM visibilities of LIGO/Virgo sky localizations to search for cumulative signatures of coincident subthreshold gamma-rays. All search methods recover the short gamma-ray burst GRB 170817A occurring ~1.7 s after the binary neutron star merger GW170817. We also present results from a new search seeking GBM counterparts to LIGO single-interferometer triggers. This search finds a candidate joint event, but given the nature of the GBM signal and localization, as well as the high joint false alarm rate of 1.1 x 10^-6 Hz, we do not consider it an astrophysical association. We find no additional coincidences.

Files in Document:

• GBM_LV_Jan13.pdf (1.0 MB)

Other Files:

• Data plotted in figures (GBM_LV_figure_data.zip, 1.2 MB)

Topics:

• Astrophysics / Multi-messenger

Authors:

• LIGO Scientific Collaboration
• Virgo Collaboration

Keywords:

cbc fermi gbm grb

Notes and Changes:

To be submitted to ApJ.
Authored by members of the Fermi-GBM instrument team (R. Hamburg et al.) together with the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration.