2017ApJ...848L..27T

Query : 2017ApJ...848L..27T

2017ApJ...848L..27T - Astrophys. J., 848, L27-L27 (2017/October-3)

The emergence of a lanthanide-rich kilonova following the merger of two neutron stars.

TANVIR N.R., LEVAN A.J., GONZALEZ-FERNANDEZ C., KOROBKIN O., MANDEL I., ROSSWOG S., HJORTH J., D'AVANZO P., FRUCHTER A.S., FRYER C.L., KANGAS T., MILVANG-JENSEN B., ROSETTI S., STEEGHS D., WOLLAEGER R.T., CANO Z., COPPERWHEAT C.M., COVINO S., D'ELIA V., DE UGARTE POSTIGO A., EVANS P.A., EVEN W.P., FAIRHURST S., FIGUERA JAIMES R., FONTES C.J., FUJII Y.I., FYNBO J.P.U., GOMPERTZ B.P., GREINER J., HODOSAN G., IRWIN M.J., JAKOBSSON P., JORGENSEN U.G., KANN D.A., LYMAN J.D., MALESANI D., McMAHON R.G., MELANDRI A., O'BRIEN P.T., OSBORNE J.P., PALAZZI E., PERLEY D.A., PIAN E., PIRANOMONTE S., RABUS M., ROL E., ROWLINSON A., SCHULZE S., SUTTON P., THONE C.C., ULACZYK K., WATSON D., WIERSEMA K. and WIJERS R.A.M.J.

Abstract (from CDS):

We report the discovery and monitoring of the near-infrared counterpart (AT2017gfo) of a binary neutron-star merger event detected as a gravitational wave source by Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO)/Virgo (GW170817) and as a short gamma-ray burst by Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) and Integral SPI-ACS (GRB 170817A). The evolution of the transient light is consistent with predictions for the behavior of a "kilonova/macronova" powered by the radioactive decay of massive neutron-rich nuclides created via r-process nucleosynthesis in the neutron-star ejecta. In particular, evidence for this scenario is found from broad features seen in Hubble Space Telescope infrared spectroscopy, similar to those predicted for lanthanide-dominated ejecta, and the much slower evolution in the near-infrared Ks-band compared to the optical. This indicates that the late-time light is dominated by high-opacity lanthanide-rich ejecta, suggesting nucleosynthesis to the third r-process peak (atomic masses A~195). This discovery confirms that neutron-star mergers produce kilo-/macronovae and that they are at least a major-if not the dominant-site of rapid neutron capture nucleosynthesis in the universe.

Abstract Copyright: © 2017. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

Journal keyword(s): gravitational waves - nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, abundances - stars: neutron - stars: neutron

Simbad objects: 3

goto Full paper

goto View the references in ADS

Number of rows : 3
N Identifier Otype ICRS (J2000)
RA 		ICRS (J2000)
DEC 		Mag U Mag B Mag V Mag R Mag I Sp type #ref
1850 - 2026 		#notes
1 SDSS J112848.22+170418.5 G 11 28 48.22989 +17 04 18.5014           ~ 393 0
2 NGC 4993 Sy2 13 09 47.6908761600 -23 23 02.314044636   13.34   11.92   ~ 397 0
3 GrW 170817 GWE 13 09 48.0850 -23 22 53.343           ~ 2683 0

To bookmark this query, right click on this link: simbad:objects in 2017ApJ...848L..27T and select 'bookmark this link' or equivalent in the popup menu