Where binary neutron stars merge: predictions from IllustrisTNG

TL;DR

This paper predicts the distribution of binary neutron star merger host galaxy masses using IllustrisTNG simulations and various delay time distributions, aiding future observational strategies and understanding of merger origins.

Contribution

Couples IllustrisTNG star formation histories with diverse delay time distributions to predict BNS merger host galaxy mass functions and inform observational and theoretical studies.

Findings

50% of BNS mergers occur in galaxies with stellar mass 10^{10}-10^{11} M_\\odot

Varying DTD affects the spread of host galaxy masses but not the peak

Observations can constrain the true DTD and merger channels

Abstract

The rate and location of Binary Neutron Star (BNS) mergers are determined by a combination of the star formation history and the Delay Time Distribution (DTD) function. In this paper, we couple the star formation rate histories (SFRHs) from the IllustrisTNG model to a series of varied assumptions for the BNS DTD to make predictions for the BNS merger host galaxy mass function. These predictions offer two outcomes: (i) in the near term: influence BNS merger event follow-up strategy by scrutinizing where most BNS merger events are expected to occur and (ii) in the long term: constrain the DTD for BNS merger events once the host galaxy mass function is observationally well determined. From our fiducial model analysis, we predict that 50% of BNS mergers will occur in host galaxies with stellar mass between $10^{10} - 10^{11}$ $M_\odot$, 68% between $4 \times 10^{9} - 3\times 10^{11}$ $M_\odot$, and 95% between $4 \times 10^8 - 2 \times 10^{12}$ $M_\odot$. We find that the details of the DTD employed does not have a strong effect on the peak of the host mass function. However, varying the DTD provides enough spread that the true DTD can be determined from enough electromagnetic observations of BNS mergers. Knowing the true DTD can help us determine the prevalence of BNS systems formed through highly eccentric and short separation fast-merging channels and can constrain the dominant source of r-process material.