Title: A Search for Kilonovae in the Dark Energy Survey

Abstract

The coalescence of a binary neutron star pair is expected to produce gravitational waves (GW) and electromagnetic radiation, both of which may be detectable with currently available instruments. In this paper, we describe a search for a predicted r-process optical transient from these mergers, dubbed the “kilonova” (KN), using griz broadband data from the Dark Energy Survey Supernova Program (DES-SN). Some models predict KNe to be redder, shorter-lived, and dimmer than supernovae (SNe), but the event rate of KNe is poorly constrained. We simulate KN and SN light curves with the Monte-Carlo simulation code SNANA to optimize selection requirements, determine search efficiency, and predict SN backgrounds. Our analysis of the first two seasons of DES-SN data results in 0 events, and is consistent with our prediction of 1.1 ± 0.2 background events based on simulations of SNe. From our prediction, there is a 33% chance of finding 0 events in the data. Assuming no underlying galaxy flux, our search sets 90% upper limits on the KN volumetric rate of 1.0 x_10$$^{7}$$ Gpc^$$-$$3 yr^$$-$$1 for the dimmest KN model we consider (peak i-band absolute magnitude $${M}_{i}=-11.4$$ mag) and 2.4x_10$$^{4}$$ Gpc^$$-$$3 yr^$$-$$1 for the brightest ($${M}_{i}=-16.2$$ mag). Accounting for anomalous subtraction artifacts on bright galaxies, these limits are ~3 times higher. This analysis is the first untriggered optical KN search and informs selection requirements and strategies for future KN searches. Finally, our upper limits on the KN rate are consistent with those measured by GW and gamma-ray burst searches.

Authors:

Doctor, Z.; Kessler, R.; Chen, H. Y.; Farr, B.; Finley, D. A.; Foley, R. J.; Goldstein, D. A.; Holz, D. E.; Kim, A. G.; Morganson, E.; Sako, M.; Scolnic, D.; Smith, M.; Soares-Santos, M.; Spinka, H.; Abbott, T. M. C.; Abdalla, F. B.; Allam, S.; Annis, J.; Bechtol, K. more »; Benoit-Lévy, A.; Bertin, E.; Brooks, D.; Buckley-Geer, E.; Burke, D. L.; Rosell, A. Carnero; Kind, M. Carrasco; Carretero, J.; Cunha, C. E.; D’Andrea, C. B.; Costa, L. N. da; DePoy, D. L.; Desai, S.; Diehl, H. T.; Drlica-Wagner, A.; Eifler, T. F.; Frieman, J.; García-Bellido, J.; Gaztanaga, E.; Gerdes, D. W.; Gruendl, R. A.; Gschwend, J.; Gutierrez, G.; James, D. J.; Krause, E.; Kuehn, K.; Kuropatkin, N.; Lahav, O.; Li, T. S.; Lima, M.; Maia, M. A. G.; March, M.; Marshall, J. L.; Menanteau, F.; Miquel, R.; Neilsen, E.; Nichol, R. C.; Nord, B.; Plazas, A. A.; Romer, A. K.; Sanchez, E.; Scarpine, V.; Schubnell, M.; Sevilla-Noarbe, I.; Smith, R. C.; Sobreira, F.; Suchyta, E.; Swanson, M. E. C.; Tarle, G.; Walker, A. R.; Wester, W. « less

Publication Date:

Thu Mar 02 00:00:00 EST 2017

Research Org.:

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States); Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)

Contributing Org.:

DES Collaboration; DES

OSTI Identifier:

1347342

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1346369; OSTI ID: 1368586

Report Number(s):

FERMILAB-PUB-16-561-AE; arXiv:1611.08052
Journal ID: ISSN 1538-4357; KJ0402000; KJ0503000; ERKJ311; ERKJEPM; TRN: US1700657

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC05-00OR22725; AC02-07CH11359; AC02-76SF00515

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

The Astrophysical Journal (Online)

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: The Astrophysical Journal (Online); Journal Volume: 837; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 1538-4357

Publisher:

Institute of Physics (IOP)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS; binaries; data analysis methods; observational methods; neutron stars; supernovae