LOFAR 144-MHz follow-up observations of GW170817

J. W. Broderick; T. W. Shimwell; K. Gourdji; A. Rowlinson; S. Nissanke; K. Hotokezaka; P. G. Jonker; C. Tasse; M. J. Hardcastle; J. B. R. Oonk; R. P. Fender; R. A. M. J. Wijers; A. Shulevski; A. J. Stewart; S. ter Veen; V. A. Moss; M. H. D. van der Wiel; D. A. Nichols; A. Piette; D. Carbone; S. Corbel; J. Eislöffel; J. -M. Grießmeier; E. F. Keane; C. J. Law; T. Muñoz-Darias; M. Pietka; M. Serylak; A. J. van der Horst; J. van Leeuwen; R. Wijnands; P. Zarka; J. M. Anderson; M. J. Bentum; R. Blaauw; W. N. Brouw; M. Brüggen; B. Ciardi; M. de Vos; S. Duscha; R. A. Fallows; T. M. O. Franzen; M. A. Garrett; A. W. Gunst; M. Hoeft; J. R. Hörandel; M. Iacobelli; E. Jütte; L. V. E. Koopmans; A. Krankowski; P. Maat; G. Mann; H. Mulder; A. Nelles; H. Paas; M. Pandey-Pommier; R. Pekal; W. Reich; H. J. A. Röttgering; D. J. Schwarz; O. Smirnov; M. Soida; M. C. Toribio; M. P. van Haarlem; R. J. van Weeren; C. Vocks; O. Wucknitz; P. Zucca

doi:10.1093/mnras/staa950

LOFAR 144-MHz follow-up observations of GW170817

J. W. Broderick, T. W. Shimwell, K. Gourdji, A. Rowlinson, S. Nissanke, K. Hotokezaka, P. G. Jonker, C. Tasse, M. J. Hardcastle, J. B. R. Oonk, R. P. Fender, R. A. M. J. Wijers, A. Shulevski, A. J. Stewart, S. ter Veen, V. A. Moss, M. H. D. van der Wiel, D. A. Nichols, A. Piette, D. CarboneS. Corbel, J. Eislöffel, J. -M. Grießmeier, E. F. Keane, C. J. Law, T. Muñoz-Darias, M. Pietka, M. Serylak, A. J. van der Horst, J. van Leeuwen, R. Wijnands, P. Zarka, J. M. Anderson, M. J. Bentum, R. Blaauw, W. N. Brouw, M. Brüggen, B. Ciardi, M. de Vos, S. Duscha, R. A. Fallows, T. M. O. Franzen, M. A. Garrett, A. W. Gunst, M. Hoeft, J. R. Hörandel, M. Iacobelli, E. Jütte, L. V. E. Koopmans, A. Krankowski, P. Maat, G. Mann, H. Mulder, A. Nelles, H. Paas, M. Pandey-Pommier, R. Pekal, W. Reich, H. J. A. Röttgering, D. J. Schwarz, O. Smirnov, M. Soida, M. C. Toribio, M. P. van Haarlem, R. J. van Weeren, C. Vocks, O. Wucknitz, P. Zucca

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Abstract

We present low-radio-frequency follow-up observations of AT 2017gfo, the electromagnetic counterpart of GW170817, which was the first binary neutron star merger to be detected by Advanced LIGO-Virgo. These data, with a central frequency of 144 MHz, were obtained with LOFAR, the Low-Frequency Array. The maximum elevation of the target is just 13.7 degrees when observed with LOFAR, making our observations particularly challenging to calibrate and significantly limiting the achievable sensitivity. On time-scales of 130-138 and 371-374 days after the merger event, we obtain 3$\sigma$ upper limits for the afterglow component of 6.6 and 19.5 mJy beam$^{-1}$, respectively. Using our best upper limit and previously published, contemporaneous higher-frequency radio data, we place a limit on any potential steepening of the radio spectrum between 610 and 144 MHz: the two-point spectral index $\alpha^{610}_{144} \gtrsim -2.5$. We also show that LOFAR can detect the afterglows of future binary neutron star merger events occurring at more favourable elevations.

Original language	English
Article number	staa950
Pages (from-to)	5110–5117
Number of pages	8
Journal	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS)
Volume	494
Issue number	4
Early online date	14 Apr 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa950
Publication status	Published - 1 Jun 2020

Keywords

astro-ph.HE

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10.1093/mnras/staa950Licence: Unspecified

2004.01726v1
This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 494, Issue 4, June 2020, Pages 5110–5117, ©: 2020 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
Accepted author manuscript, 1.27 MB
staa950
This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 494, Issue 4, June 2020, Pages 5110–5117, ©: 2020 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
Final published version, 2.53 MBLicence: Unspecified

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Broderick, J. W., Shimwell, T. W., Gourdji, K., Rowlinson, A., Nissanke, S., Hotokezaka, K., Jonker, P. G., Tasse, C., Hardcastle, M. J., Oonk, J. B. R., Fender, R. P., Wijers, R. A. M. J., Shulevski, A., Stewart, A. J., Veen, S. T., Moss, V. A., Wiel, M. H. D. V. D., Nichols, D. A., Piette, A., ... Zucca, P. (2020). LOFAR 144-MHz follow-up observations of GW170817. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS), 494(4), 5110–5117. Article staa950. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa950

@article{a6f7c624e34e4af5ba8358ae2961b54a,

title = "LOFAR 144-MHz follow-up observations of GW170817",

abstract = "We present low-radio-frequency follow-up observations of AT 2017gfo, the electromagnetic counterpart of GW170817, which was the first binary neutron star merger to be detected by Advanced LIGO-Virgo. These data, with a central frequency of 144 MHz, were obtained with LOFAR, the Low-Frequency Array. The maximum elevation of the target is just 13.7 degrees when observed with LOFAR, making our observations particularly challenging to calibrate and significantly limiting the achievable sensitivity. On time-scales of 130-138 and 371-374 days after the merger event, we obtain 3$\sigma$ upper limits for the afterglow component of 6.6 and 19.5 mJy beam$^{-1}$, respectively. Using our best upper limit and previously published, contemporaneous higher-frequency radio data, we place a limit on any potential steepening of the radio spectrum between 610 and 144 MHz: the two-point spectral index $\alpha^{610}_{144} \gtrsim -2.5$. We also show that LOFAR can detect the afterglows of future binary neutron star merger events occurring at more favourable elevations. ",

keywords = "astro-ph.HE",

author = "Broderick, {J. W.} and Shimwell, {T. W.} and K. Gourdji and A. Rowlinson and S. Nissanke and K. Hotokezaka and Jonker, {P. G.} and C. Tasse and Hardcastle, {M. J.} and Oonk, {J. B. R.} and Fender, {R. P.} and Wijers, {R. A. M. J.} and A. Shulevski and Stewart, {A. J.} and Veen, {S. ter} and Moss, {V. A.} and Wiel, {M. H. D. van der} and Nichols, {D. A.} and A. Piette and D. Carbone and S. Corbel and J. Eisl{\"o}ffel and Grie{\ss}meier, {J. -M.} and Keane, {E. F.} and Law, {C. J.} and T. Mu{\~n}oz-Darias and M. Pietka and M. Serylak and Horst, {A. J. van der} and Leeuwen, {J. van} and R. Wijnands and P. Zarka and Anderson, {J. M.} and Bentum, {M. J.} and R. Blaauw and Brouw, {W. N.} and M. Br{\"u}ggen and B. Ciardi and Vos, {M. de} and S. Duscha and Fallows, {R. A.} and Franzen, {T. M. O.} and Garrett, {M. A.} and Gunst, {A. W.} and M. Hoeft and H{\"o}randel, {J. R.} and M. Iacobelli and E. J{\"u}tte and Koopmans, {L. V. E.} and A. Krankowski and P. Maat and G. Mann and H. Mulder and A. Nelles and H. Paas and M. Pandey-Pommier and R. Pekal and W. Reich and R{\"o}ttgering, {H. J. A.} and Schwarz, {D. J.} and O. Smirnov and M. Soida and Toribio, {M. C.} and Haarlem, {M. P. van} and Weeren, {R. J. van} and C. Vocks and O. Wucknitz and P. Zucca",

note = "This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 494, Issue 4, June 2020, Pages 5110–5117, {\textcopyright}: 2020 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.",

year = "2020",

month = jun,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1093/mnras/staa950",

language = "English",

volume = "494",

pages = "5110–5117",

journal = "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS)",

issn = "0035-8711",

publisher = "Oxford University Press (OUP)",

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Broderick, JW, Shimwell, TW, Gourdji, K, Rowlinson, A, Nissanke, S, Hotokezaka, K, Jonker, PG, Tasse, C, Hardcastle, MJ, Oonk, JBR, Fender, RP, Wijers, RAMJ, Shulevski, A, Stewart, AJ, Veen, ST, Moss, VA, Wiel, MHDVD, Nichols, DA, Piette, A, Carbone, D, Corbel, S, Eislöffel, J, Grießmeier, J-M, Keane, EF, Law, CJ, Muñoz-Darias, T, Pietka, M, Serylak, M, Horst, AJVD, Leeuwen, JV, Wijnands, R, Zarka, P, Anderson, JM, Bentum, MJ, Blaauw, R, Brouw, WN, Brüggen, M, Ciardi, B, Vos, MD, Duscha, S, Fallows, RA, Franzen, TMO, Garrett, MA, Gunst, AW, Hoeft, M, Hörandel, JR, Iacobelli, M, Jütte, E, Koopmans, LVE, Krankowski, A, Maat, P, Mann, G, Mulder, H, Nelles, A, Paas, H, Pandey-Pommier, M, Pekal, R, Reich, W, Röttgering, HJA, Schwarz, DJ, Smirnov, O, Soida, M, Toribio, MC, Haarlem, MPV, Weeren, RJV, Vocks, C, Wucknitz, O & Zucca, P 2020, 'LOFAR 144-MHz follow-up observations of GW170817', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS), vol. 494, no. 4, staa950, pp. 5110–5117. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa950

TY - JOUR

T1 - LOFAR 144-MHz follow-up observations of GW170817

AU - Broderick, J. W.

AU - Shimwell, T. W.

AU - Gourdji, K.

AU - Rowlinson, A.

AU - Nissanke, S.

AU - Hotokezaka, K.

AU - Jonker, P. G.

AU - Tasse, C.

AU - Hardcastle, M. J.

AU - Oonk, J. B. R.

AU - Fender, R. P.

AU - Wijers, R. A. M. J.

AU - Shulevski, A.

AU - Stewart, A. J.

AU - Veen, S. ter

AU - Moss, V. A.

AU - Wiel, M. H. D. van der

AU - Nichols, D. A.

AU - Piette, A.

AU - Carbone, D.

AU - Corbel, S.

AU - Eislöffel, J.

AU - Grießmeier, J. -M.

AU - Keane, E. F.

AU - Law, C. J.

AU - Muñoz-Darias, T.

AU - Pietka, M.

AU - Serylak, M.

AU - Horst, A. J. van der

AU - Leeuwen, J. van

AU - Wijnands, R.

AU - Zarka, P.

AU - Anderson, J. M.

AU - Bentum, M. J.

AU - Blaauw, R.

AU - Brouw, W. N.

AU - Brüggen, M.

AU - Ciardi, B.

AU - Vos, M. de

AU - Duscha, S.

AU - Fallows, R. A.

AU - Franzen, T. M. O.

AU - Garrett, M. A.

AU - Gunst, A. W.

AU - Hoeft, M.

AU - Hörandel, J. R.

AU - Iacobelli, M.

AU - Jütte, E.

AU - Koopmans, L. V. E.

AU - Krankowski, A.

AU - Maat, P.

AU - Mann, G.

AU - Mulder, H.

AU - Nelles, A.

AU - Paas, H.

AU - Pandey-Pommier, M.

AU - Pekal, R.

AU - Reich, W.

AU - Röttgering, H. J. A.

AU - Schwarz, D. J.

AU - Smirnov, O.

AU - Soida, M.

AU - Toribio, M. C.

AU - Haarlem, M. P. van

AU - Weeren, R. J. van

AU - Vocks, C.

AU - Wucknitz, O.

AU - Zucca, P.

N1 - This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Volume 494, Issue 4, June 2020, Pages 5110–5117, ©: 2020 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

PY - 2020/6/1

Y1 - 2020/6/1

N2 - We present low-radio-frequency follow-up observations of AT 2017gfo, the electromagnetic counterpart of GW170817, which was the first binary neutron star merger to be detected by Advanced LIGO-Virgo. These data, with a central frequency of 144 MHz, were obtained with LOFAR, the Low-Frequency Array. The maximum elevation of the target is just 13.7 degrees when observed with LOFAR, making our observations particularly challenging to calibrate and significantly limiting the achievable sensitivity. On time-scales of 130-138 and 371-374 days after the merger event, we obtain 3$\sigma$ upper limits for the afterglow component of 6.6 and 19.5 mJy beam$^{-1}$, respectively. Using our best upper limit and previously published, contemporaneous higher-frequency radio data, we place a limit on any potential steepening of the radio spectrum between 610 and 144 MHz: the two-point spectral index $\alpha^{610}_{144} \gtrsim -2.5$. We also show that LOFAR can detect the afterglows of future binary neutron star merger events occurring at more favourable elevations.

AB - We present low-radio-frequency follow-up observations of AT 2017gfo, the electromagnetic counterpart of GW170817, which was the first binary neutron star merger to be detected by Advanced LIGO-Virgo. These data, with a central frequency of 144 MHz, were obtained with LOFAR, the Low-Frequency Array. The maximum elevation of the target is just 13.7 degrees when observed with LOFAR, making our observations particularly challenging to calibrate and significantly limiting the achievable sensitivity. On time-scales of 130-138 and 371-374 days after the merger event, we obtain 3$\sigma$ upper limits for the afterglow component of 6.6 and 19.5 mJy beam$^{-1}$, respectively. Using our best upper limit and previously published, contemporaneous higher-frequency radio data, we place a limit on any potential steepening of the radio spectrum between 610 and 144 MHz: the two-point spectral index $\alpha^{610}_{144} \gtrsim -2.5$. We also show that LOFAR can detect the afterglows of future binary neutron star merger events occurring at more favourable elevations.

KW - astro-ph.HE

U2 - 10.1093/mnras/staa950

DO - 10.1093/mnras/staa950

M3 - Article

SN - 0035-8711

VL - 494

SP - 5110

EP - 5117

JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS)

JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS)

IS - 4

M1 - staa950

ER -

LOFAR 144-MHz follow-up observations of GW170817

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