Search for Subsolar-Mass Ultracompact Binaries in Advanced LIGO’s First Observing Run

B. P. Abbott et al. (LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration)
Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 231103 – Published 7 December 2018

Abstract

We present the first Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo search for ultracompact binary systems with component masses between 0.2M1.0M using data taken between September 12, 2015 and January 19, 2016. We find no viable gravitational wave candidates. Our null result constrains the coalescence rate of monochromatic (delta function) distributions of nonspinning (0.2M, 0.2M) ultracompact binaries to be less than 1.0×106Gpc3yr1 and the coalescence rate of a similar distribution of (1.0M, 1.0M) ultracompact binaries to be less than 1.9×104Gpc3yr1 (at 90% confidence). Neither black holes nor neutron stars are expected to form below 1M through conventional stellar evolution, though it has been proposed that similarly low mass black holes could be formed primordially through density fluctuations in the early Universe and contribute to the dark matter density. The interpretation of our constraints in the primordial black hole dark matter paradigm is highly model dependent; however, under a particular primordial black hole binary formation scenario we constrain monochromatic primordial black hole populations of 0.2M to be less than 33% of the total dark matter density and monochromatic populations of 1.0M to be less than 5% of the dark matter density. The latter strengthens the presently placed bounds from microlensing surveys of massive compact halo objects (MACHOs) provided by the MACHO and EROS Collaborations.

    • Received 15 August 2018

    DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.231103

    © 2018 American Physical Society

    Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

    Gravitation, Cosmology & Astrophysics

    Authors & Affiliations

    Click to Expand

    Article Text (Subscription Required)

    Click to Expand

    References (Subscription Required)

    Click to Expand
    Issue

    Vol. 121, Iss. 23 — 7 December 2018

    Reuse & Permissions
    Access Options
    CHORUS

    Article Available via CHORUS

    Download Accepted Manuscript
    Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

    Authorization Required


    ×
    ×

    Images

    ×

    Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

    Log In

    Cancel
    ×

    Search


    Article Lookup

    Paste a citation or DOI

    Enter a citation
    ×