INTEGRAL upper limits on gamma-ray emission associated with the gravitational wave event GW150914

TL;DR

This study uses INTEGRAL observations to set upper limits on gamma-ray and X-ray emissions associated with GW150914, constraining the electromagnetic energy output relative to gravitational wave energy and informing models of such astrophysical events.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive upper limits on gamma-ray emission from GW150914 using INTEGRAL data, constraining the energy ratio and informing theoretical models.

Findings

Upper limits on gamma-ray fluence range from 2×10⁻⁸ to 10⁻⁶ erg/cm².

The ratio of gamma-ray energy to gravitational wave energy is constrained to less than 10⁻⁶.

Results challenge models predicting significant electromagnetic counterparts to GW150914.

Abstract

Using observations of the INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL), we put upper limits on the gamma-ray and hard X-ray prompt emission associated with the gravitational wave event GW150914, discovered by the LIGO/Virgo collaboration. The omni-directional view of the INTEGRAL/SPI-ACS has allowed us to constrain the fraction of energy emitted in the hard X-ray electromagnetic component for the full high-probability sky region of LIGO trigger. Our upper limits on the hard X-ray fluence at the time of the event range from $F_{\gamma}=2 \times 10^{-8}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ to $F_{\gamma}=10^{-6}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ in the 75 keV - 2 MeV energy range for typical spectral models. Our results constrain the ratio of the energy promptly released in gamma-rays in the direction of the observer to the gravitational wave energy E$_\gamma/$E$_\mathrm{GW}<10^{-6}$. We discuss the implication of gamma-ray limits on the characteristics of the gravitational wave source, based on the available predictions for prompt electromagnetic emission.