GW170817: Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Neutron Star Inspiral
B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, T. D. Abbott · B. P. Abbott et al.; LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration.
Summary
This paper reports the first detection of gravitational waves from the inspiral of a binary neutron star system, event GW170817, observed on 17 August 2017 by Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. The signal lasted far longer than previous black-hole mergers, consistent with low-mass compact objects. The detection, coincident with a short gamma-ray burst and subsequent electromagnetic follow-up, inaugurated multimessenger astronomy with gravitational waves.
Key findings
- First gravitational-wave detection of a binary neutron star inspiral (GW170817, 17 August 2017).
- Inferred component masses consistent with neutron stars (total mass ~2.74 solar masses).
- Established the source distance (~40 Mpc) enabling joint electromagnetic follow-up and multimessenger astronomy.
Subjects & keywords
Cite this paper
B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, & T. D. Abbott [B. P. Abbott et al.; LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration.] (2017). GW170817: Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Neutron Star Inspiral. Physical Review Letters. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.161101
@article{abbott2017gw170817,
author = {B. P. Abbott and R. Abbott and T. D. Abbott and {B. P. Abbott et al.; LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration.}},
title = {GW170817: Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Neutron Star Inspiral},
journal = {Physical Review Letters},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.161101},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.161101}
}