Eldridge, J. J. and Stanway, Elizabeth R. (2016) BPASS predictions for binary black hole mergers. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 462 (3). pp. 3302-3313. doi:10.1093/mnras/stw1772

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Abstract

Using the Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis code, BPASS, we have calculated the rates, time-scales and mass distributions for binary black hole (BH) mergers as a function of metallicity. We consider these in the context of the recently reported first Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) event detection. We find that the event has a very low probability of arising from a stellar population with initial metallicity mass fraction above Z = 0.010 (Z ≳ 0.5 Z⊙). Binary BH merger events with the reported masses are most likely in populations below 0.008 (Z ≲ 0.4 Z⊙). Events of this kind can occur at all stellar population ages from 3 Myr up to the age of the Universe, but constitute only 0.1–0.4 per cent of binary BH mergers between metallicities of Z = 0.001 and 0.008. However at metallicity Z = 10−4, 26 per cent of binary BH mergers would be expected to have the reported masses. At this metallicity, the progenitor merger times can be close to ≈10 Gyr and rotationally mixed stars evolving through quasi-homogeneous evolution, due to mass transfer in a binary, dominate the rate. The masses inferred for the BHs in the binary progenitor of GW 150914 are amongst the most massive expected at anything but the lowest metallicities in our models. We discuss the implications of our analysis for the electromagnetic follow-up of future LIGO event detections.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Black holes (Astronomy), Gravitational waves, Double stars -- Evolution
Journal or Publication Title:	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
ISSN:	0035-8711
Official Date:	1 November 2016
Dates:	Date Event 1 November 2016 Published 25 July 2016 Available 18 July 2016 Accepted 14 July 2016 Submitted
Volume:	462
Number:	3
Page Range:	pp. 3302-3313
DOI:	10.1093/mnras/stw1772
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	University of Auckland, Science and Technology Facilities Council (Great Britain) (STFC), New Zealand eScience Infrastructure (NeSI) , New Zealand. Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Grant number:	ST/L000733/1 (STFC)

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