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The origin of polarization in kilonovae and the case of the gravitational-wave counterpart AT 2017gfo

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Bulla, M., Covino, S., Kyutoku, K., Tanaka, M., Maund, J. R., Patat, F., Toma, K., Wiersema, Klaas, Bruten, J., Jin, Z. P. and Testa, V. (2019) The origin of polarization in kilonovae and the case of the gravitational-wave counterpart AT 2017gfo. Nature Astronomy, 3 . pp. 99-106. doi:10.1038/s41550-018-0593-y

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-018-0593-y

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Abstract

The gravitational-wave event GW 170817 was generated by the coalescence of two neutron stars and produced an electromagnetic transient, labelled AT 2017gfo, that was the target of a massive observational campaign. Polarimetry is a powerful diagnostic tool for probing the geometry and emission processes of unresolved sources, and the observed linear polarization for this event was consistent with being mostly induced by intervening dust, suggesting that the intrinsic emission was weakly polarized (P < 0.4–0.5%). Here we present a detailed analysis of the linear polarization expected from a merging neutron-star binary system by means of 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer simulations assuming a range of possible configurations, wavelengths, epochs and viewing angles. We find that polarization originates from the non-homogeneous opacity distribution within the ejecta and can reach levels of 1% at early times (one to two days after the merger) and in the optical R band. Smaller polarization signals are expected at later epochs and different wavelengths. From the viewing-angle dependence of the polarimetric signal, we constrain the observer orientation of AT 2017gfo to within about 65° from the polar direction. The detection of non-zero polarization in future events will unambiguously reveal the presence of a lanthanide-free ejecta component and unveil its spatial and angular distribution.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
Q Science > QC Physics
Divisions: Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Gravitational waves , Neutron stars , Polarization (Nuclear physics)
Journal or Publication Title: Nature Astronomy
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
ISSN: 2397-3366
Official Date: 1 January 2019
Dates:
DateEvent
1 January 2019Published
19 November 2018Available
11 September 2018Accepted
Volume: 3
Page Range: pp. 99-106
DOI: 10.1038/s41550-018-0593-y
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder: Royal Society (Great Britain). University Research Fellowship
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:
Project/Grant IDRIOXX Funder NameFunder ID
UNSPECIFIEDVetenskapsrådethttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004359
UNSPECIFIEDSwedish National Space Boardhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001859
I/004/11/3Agenzia Spaziale Italianahttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100003981
JP16H06342[JSPS] Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciencehttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001691
JP17H01131[JSPS] Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciencehttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001691
JP18H04595[JSPS] Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciencehttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001691
15H05437[JSPS] Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciencehttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001691
18H01245[JSPS] Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciencehttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001691
UNSPECIFIEDJapan Science and Technology Agencyhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002241
UNSPECIFIEDUniversity of Sheffieldhttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000858
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