INTEGRAL Upper Limits on Gamma-Ray Emission Associated with the Gravitational Wave Event GW150914 (original) (raw)
ADS
;
- Ferrigno, C. ;
- Mereghetti, S. ;
- Natalucci, L. ;
- Bazzano, A. ;
- Bozzo, E. ;
- Brandt, S. ;
- Courvoisier, T. J. -L. ;
- Diehl, R. ;
- Hanlon, L. ;
- von Kienlin, A. ;
- Kuulkers, E. ;
- Laurent, P. ;
- Lebrun, F. ;
- Roques, J. P. ;
- Ubertini, P. ;
- Weidenspointner, G.
Abstract
Using observations of the INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL), we place upper limits on the gamma-ray and hard X-ray prompt emission associated with the gravitational wave event GW150914, which was discovered by the LIGO/Virgo Collaboration. The omnidirectional view of the INTEGRAL/SPI-ACS has allowed us to constrain the fraction of energy emitted in the hard X-ray electromagnetic component for the full high-probability sky region of LIGO triggers. Our upper limits on the hard X-ray fluence at the time of the event range from {F}γ =2× {10}-8 erg cm-2 to {F}γ ={10}-6 erg cm-2 in the 75 keV-2 MeV energy range for typical spectral models. Our results constrain the ratio of the energy promptly released in gamma-rays in the direction of the observer to the gravitational wave energy E {}γ / E {}{GW}\lt {10}-6. We discuss the implication of gamma-ray limits for the characteristics of the gravitational wave source, based on the available predictions for prompt electromagnetic emission.
Publication:
The Astrophysical Journal
Pub Date:
April 2016
DOI:
arXiv:
Bibcode:
Keywords:
- gamma-ray burst: general;
- gravitational waves;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
E-Print:
accepted for publication in ApJL