A search for radio emission from double-neutron star merger GW190425 using Apertif

Abstract

Detection of the electromagnetic emission from coalescing binary neutron stars (BNS) is important for understanding the merger and afterglow. We present a search for a radio counterpart to the gravitational-wave source GW190425, a BNS merger, using Apertif on the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT). We observe a field of high probability in the associated localisation region for 3 epochs at 68, 90 and 109 days post merger. We identify all sources that exhibit flux variations consistent with the expected afterglow emission of GW190425. We also look for possible transients. These are sources which are only present in one epoch. In addition, we quantify our ability to search for radio afterglows in fourth and future observing runs of the gravitational-wave detector network using Monte Carlo simulations. We found 25 afterglow candidates based on their variability. None of these could be associated with a possible host galaxy at the luminosity distance of GW190425. We also found 55 transient afterglow candidates that were only detected in one epoch. All turned out to be image artefacts. In the fourth observing run, we predict that up to three afterglows will be detectable by Apertif. While we did not find a source related to the afterglow emission of GW190425, the search validates our methods for future searches of radio afterglows.

11 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication

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• GWTC-3: Compact Binary Coalescences Observed by LIGO and Virgo During the Second Part of the Third Observing Run
• First release of Apertif imaging survey data
• Numerical relativity simulations of the neutron star merger GW190425: microphysics and mass ratio effects
• Leveraging gravitational-wave memory to distinguish neutron star--black hole binaries from black hole binaries
• The Apertif Radio Transient System (ARTS): Design, Commissioning, Data Release, and Detection of the first 5 Fast Radio Bursts
• What if GW190425 did not produce a black hole promptly?
• Results from the Pan-STARRS Search for Kilonovae: Contamination by Massive Stellar Outbursts
• Estimating Hubble Constant with Gravitational Observations: A Concise Review
• Searching for low radio-frequency gravitational wave counterparts in wide-field LOFAR data
• Investigating the detection rates and inference of gravitational-wave and radio emission from black hole neutron star mergers
• 3D Localization of FRB 20190425A for Its Potential Host Galaxy and Implications
• Apertif, Phased Array Feeds for the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope
• Early Warning From Eccentric Compact Binaries: Template Initialization And Sub-dominant Mode Effects