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Formation of the first three gravitational-wave observations through isolated binary evolution

Author

Listed:
  • Simon Stevenson

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham)

  • Alejandro Vigna-Gómez

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham)

  • Ilya Mandel

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham)

  • Jim W. Barrett

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham)

  • Coenraad J. Neijssel

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham)

  • David Perkins

    (School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham)

  • Selma E. de Mink

    (Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy, University of Amsterdam)

Abstract

During its first four months of taking data, Advanced LIGO has detected gravitational waves from two binary black hole mergers, GW150914 and GW151226, along with the statistically less significant binary black hole merger candidate LVT151012. Here we use the rapid binary population synthesis code COMPAS to show that all three events can be explained by a single evolutionary channel—classical isolated binary evolution via mass transfer including a common envelope phase. We show all three events could have formed in low-metallicity environments (Z=0.001) from progenitor binaries with typical total masses ≳160M⊙, ≳60M⊙ and ≳90M⊙, for GW150914, GW151226 and LVT151012, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Simon Stevenson & Alejandro Vigna-Gómez & Ilya Mandel & Jim W. Barrett & Coenraad J. Neijssel & David Perkins & Selma E. de Mink, 2017. "Formation of the first three gravitational-wave observations through isolated binary evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms14906
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14906
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