Abstract
We present results on the mass, spin, and redshift distributions with phenomenological population models using the 10 binary black hole (BBH) mergers detected in the first and second observing runs completed by Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. We constrain properties of the BBH mass spectrum using models with a range of parameterizations of the BBH mass and spin distributions. We find that the mass distribution of the more massive BH in such binaries is well approximated by models with no more than 1% of BHs more massive than 45 M and a power-law index of (90% credibility). We also show that BBHs are unlikely to be composed of BHs with large spins aligned to the orbital angular momentum. Modeling the evolution of the BBH merger rate with redshift, we show that it is flat or increasing with redshift with 93% probability. Marginalizing over uncertainties in the BBH population, we find robust estimates of the BBH merger rate density of R= (90% credibility). As the BBH catalog grows in future observing runs, we expect that uncertainties in the population model parameters will shrink, potentially providing insights into the formation of BHs via supernovae, binary interactions of massive stars, stellar cluster dynamics, and the formation history of BHs across cosmic time.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | L24 |
| Number of pages | 30 |
| Journal | Astrophysical Journal Letters |
| Volume | 882 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 9 Sep 2019 |
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Keywords
- LIGO
- intermediate mass black hole binaries
- IMBHBs
- gravitational waves
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Binary black hole population properties inferred from the first and second observing runs of advanced LIGO and advanced Virgo. / Abbott, B. P.; Angelova, S. V.; Lockerbie, Nicholas; Reid, S.; LIGO Scientific Collaboration; Virgo Collaboration.
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 882, No. 2, L24, 09.09.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Binary black hole population properties inferred from the first and second observing runs of advanced LIGO and advanced Virgo
AU - Abbott, B. P.
AU - Angelova, S. V.
AU - Lockerbie, Nicholas
AU - Reid, S.
AU - LIGO Scientific Collaboration
AU - Virgo Collaboration
N1 - This research article is multi-authored. Please consult the manuscript for full attribution details.
PY - 2019/9/9
Y1 - 2019/9/9
N2 - We present results on the mass, spin, and redshift distributions with phenomenological population models using the 10 binary black hole (BBH) mergers detected in the first and second observing runs completed by Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. We constrain properties of the BBH mass spectrum using models with a range of parameterizations of the BBH mass and spin distributions. We find that the mass distribution of the more massive BH in such binaries is well approximated by models with no more than 1% of BHs more massive than 45 M and a power-law index of (90% credibility). We also show that BBHs are unlikely to be composed of BHs with large spins aligned to the orbital angular momentum. Modeling the evolution of the BBH merger rate with redshift, we show that it is flat or increasing with redshift with 93% probability. Marginalizing over uncertainties in the BBH population, we find robust estimates of the BBH merger rate density of R= (90% credibility). As the BBH catalog grows in future observing runs, we expect that uncertainties in the population model parameters will shrink, potentially providing insights into the formation of BHs via supernovae, binary interactions of massive stars, stellar cluster dynamics, and the formation history of BHs across cosmic time.
AB - We present results on the mass, spin, and redshift distributions with phenomenological population models using the 10 binary black hole (BBH) mergers detected in the first and second observing runs completed by Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. We constrain properties of the BBH mass spectrum using models with a range of parameterizations of the BBH mass and spin distributions. We find that the mass distribution of the more massive BH in such binaries is well approximated by models with no more than 1% of BHs more massive than 45 M and a power-law index of (90% credibility). We also show that BBHs are unlikely to be composed of BHs with large spins aligned to the orbital angular momentum. Modeling the evolution of the BBH merger rate with redshift, we show that it is flat or increasing with redshift with 93% probability. Marginalizing over uncertainties in the BBH population, we find robust estimates of the BBH merger rate density of R= (90% credibility). As the BBH catalog grows in future observing runs, we expect that uncertainties in the population model parameters will shrink, potentially providing insights into the formation of BHs via supernovae, binary interactions of massive stars, stellar cluster dynamics, and the formation history of BHs across cosmic time.
KW - LIGO
KW - intermediate mass black hole binaries
KW - IMBHBs
KW - gravitational waves
U2 - 10.3847/2041-8213/ab3800
DO - 10.3847/2041-8213/ab3800
M3 - Article
VL - 882
JO - Astrophysics Journal Letters
T2 - Astrophysics Journal Letters
JF - Astrophysics Journal Letters
SN - 2041-8205
IS - 2
M1 - L24
ER -