Low-Γ jets from compact stellar mergers: candidate electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave sources
- Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, IC2, Liverpool Science Park, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF (United Kingdom)
Short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are believed to be produced by relativistic jets from mergers of neutron stars (NSs) or NSs and black-holes (BHs). If the Lorentz-factors Γ of jets from compact stellar mergers follow a similar power-law distribution to those observed for other high-energy astrophysical phenomena (e.g., blazars, active galactic nuclei), the population of jets should be dominated by low-Γ outflows. These jets will not produce prompt gamma-rays, but jet energy will be released as X-ray/optical/radio transients when they collide with the ambient medium. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we study the properties of such transients. Approximately 78% of merger jets <300 Mpc result in failed GRBs if the jet Γ follows a power-law distribution of index −1.75. X-ray/optical transients from failed GRBs will have broad distributions of their characteristics: light-curves peak t{sub p}∼0.1--10 days after a merger; flux peaks for X-ray 10{sup −6} mJy≲ F{sub x}≲10{sup −2} mJy; and optical flux peaks at 14≲ m{sub g}≲22. X-ray transients are detectable by Swift XRT, and ∼85% of optical transients will be detectable by telescopes with limiting magnitude m{sub g}≳21, for well localized sources on the sky. X-ray/optical transients are followed by radio transients with peak times narrowly clustered around t{sub p}∼10 days, and peak flux of ∼10–100 mJy at 10 GHz and ∼0.1 mJy at 150 MHz. By considering the all-sky rate of short GRBs within the LIGO/Virgo range, the rate of on-axis orphan afterglows from failed GRBs should be 2.6(26) per year for NS–NS(NS–BH) mergers, respectively. Since merger jets from gravitational-wave (GW) trigger events tend to be directed to us, a significant fraction of GW events could be associated with the on-axis orphan afterglow.
- OSTI ID:
- 22868641
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 829, Issue 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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