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Spectroscopy of candidate electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave sources

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2017

Iain A. Steele ,
Chris M. Copperwheat  and
Andrzej S. Piascik
Iain A. Steele
Affiliation:
Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, L3 5RF, UK
Chris M. Copperwheat
Affiliation:
Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, L3 5RF, UK
Andrzej S. Piascik
Affiliation:
Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, L3 5RF, UK
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Abstract

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A programme of worldwide, multi-wavelength electromagnetic follow-up of sources detected by gravitational wave detectors is in place. Following the discovery of GW150914 and GW151226, wide field imaging of their sky localisations identified a number of candidate optical counterparts which were then spectrally classified. The majority of candidates were found to be supernovae at redshift ranges similar to the GW events and were thereby ruled out as a genuine counterpart. Other candidates ruled out include AGN and Solar System objects. Given the GW sources were black hole binary mergers, the lack of an identified electromagnetic counterpart is not surprising. However the observations show that it is possible to organise and execute a campaign that can eliminate the majority of potential counterparts. Finally we note the existence of a “classification gap” with a significant fraction of candidates going unclassified.

Keywords

gravitational waves
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 12 , Symposium S324: New Frontiers in Black Hole Astrophysics , September 2016 , pp. 283 - 286
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2017 

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