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

LIGO Scientific Collaboration, Virgo Collaboration

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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.
Original languageEnglish
Article numberL35
Number of pages11
JournalAstrophysical Journal Letters
Volume851
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Dec 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • binaries: general
  • gravitational waves
  • stars: black holes
  • EVOLUTION

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