Search for high energy $\gamma$-rays from the direction of the candidate electromagnetic counterpart to the binary black hole merger gravitational-wave event S190521g

Abstract

The gravitational-wave event S190521g -- a likely binary black hole merger in the accretion disk of an active galactic nucleus -- was accompanied by an optical counterpart. Such dense environments around luminous energy release regions are favourable for high energy $\gamma$-ray production. We report on a search for high energy $\gamma$-rays from the direction of the candidate electromagnetic counterpart to the S190521g event using publicly-available data of the Fermi-LAT space $\gamma$-ray telescope. No significant signal was found. We present upper limits on the spectral energy distribution of the source in the 100 MeV - 300 GeV energy range. We discuss the importance of studying S190521g-like transients in the context of cosmic ray acceleration, $\gamma$-ray and neutrino production in such sources.

3 pages, one figure. Accepted by Results in Physics. This is the author's version and not the final typeset