arXiv · 1808.03836
Distinguishing the nature of comparable-mass neutron star binary systems with multimessenger observations: GW170817 case study
Abstract
The discovery of GW170817 with gravitational waves (GWs) and electromagnetic (EM) radiation is prompting new questions in strong-gravity astrophysics. Importantly, it remains unknown whether the progenitor of the merger comprised two neutron stars (NSs), or a NS and a black hole (BH). Using new numerical-relativity simulations and incorporating modeling uncertainties we produce novel GW and EM observables for NS-BH mergers with similar masses. A joint analysis of GW and EM measurements reveals that if GW170817 is a NS-BH merger, <40% of the binary parameters consistent with the GW data are compatible with EM observations.
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Tanja Hinderer, Samaya Nissanke, Francois Foucart, Kenta Hotokezaka, Trevor Vincent, Mansi Kasliwal, Patricia Schmidt, Andrew R. Williamson, David Nichols, Matthew Duez, Lawrence E. Kidder, Harald P. Pfeiffer, Mark A. Scheel. 2020-03-12. Distinguishing the nature of comparable-mass neutron star binary systems with multimessenger observations: GW170817 case study. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.100.063021
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