An Ordinary Short Gamma-Ray Burst with Extraordinary Implications: Fermi-GBM Detection of GRB 170817A

TL;DR

This paper reports the first confirmed coincident detection of a short gamma-ray burst and gravitational waves from a binary merger, marking a milestone in multi-messenger astronomy.

Contribution

It presents the Fermi-GBM detection and analysis of GRB 170817A, confirming that some short GRBs originate from binary compact mergers.

Findings

First unambiguous GW and EM observation from a single source

Confirms short GRBs can be produced by binary mergers

Marks the beginning of gravitational-wave multi-messenger astronomy

Abstract

On August 17, 2017 at 12:41:06 UTC the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) detected and triggered on the short gamma-ray burst GRB 170817A. Approximately 1.7 s prior to this GRB, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) triggered on a binary compact merger candidate associated with the GRB. This is the first unambiguous coincident observation of gravitational waves and electromagnetic radiation from a single astrophysical source and marks the start of gravitational-wave multi-messenger astronomy. We report the GBM observations and analysis of this ordinary short GRB, which extraordinarily confirms that at least some short GRBs are produced by binary compact mergers.