INTEGRAL Upper Limits on Gamma-Ray Emission Associated with the Gravitational Wave Event GW150914

Journal
Date Issued
2016
Author(s)
Savchenko, V.
•
Ferrigno, C.
•
•
•
•
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.
DOI
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.
Volume
820
Issue
2
Start page
L36
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
2041-8205
Ads BibCode
2016ApJ...820L..36S
Rights
open.access
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