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

Authors

B. P. AbbottFollow
R. AbbottFollow
T. D. AbbottFollow
Eugeniy E. Mikhailov, William & MaryFollow
M. Zhang, William & Mary

Document Type

Article

Department/Program

Physics

Journal Title

ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS

Pub Date

12-20-2017

Volume

851

Issue

2

Abstract

On 2017 June 8 at 02:01:16.49 UTC, a gravitational-wave (GW) signal from the merger of two stellar-mass black holes was observed by the two Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory detectors with a network signal-to-noise ratio of. 13. This system is the lightest black hole binary so far observed, with component masses of 12(2)(+7) M-circle dot and 7(2)(+2) M-circle dot (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 GWs with electromagnetic observations. The source's luminosity distance is 340(-140)(+140) Mpc, corresponding to redshift 0.07(-0.03)(+0.03). We verify that the signal waveform is consistent with the predictions of general relativity.

Recommended Citation

Abbott, B. P.; Abbott, R.; Abbott, T. D.; Mikhailov, Eugeniy E.; and Zhang, M., GW170608: Observation of a 19 Solar-mass Binary Black Hole Coalescence (2017). ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS, 851(2).
https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aa9f0c

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aa9f0c