Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Astronomers have detected a gravitational-wave signal from a collision between a neutron star and a compact object, potentially a low-mass black hole, challenging previous assumptions.
The event, named GW230529, was observed by the LIGO Livingston detector in May 2023, representing a major achievement in astrophysics.
Gravitational waves, first proposed by Albert Einstein, are ripples in spacetime fabric, and their direct detection stands as a monumental advancement in astrophysics.
The detection challenges previous beliefs about the frequency of such collisions, suggesting they may occur more frequently than previously anticipated.
Dr. Jess McIver from the University of British Columbia underscores the importance of the discovery, indicating a potentially higher rate of similar collisions between neutron stars and low-mass black holes.
Neutron stars, one possible end product of stellar evolution, possess immense mass, with just a teaspoonful of material weighing billions of tons on Earth.
Credit: Robin Dienel/Carnegie Institution for Science
The detection of GW230529 marks the first time a gravitational-wave signal from a mass-gap object paired with a neutron star has been reported, offering valuable insights into binary evolution theories.
Enhancements to detectors, cyberinfrastructure, and analysis software enabled the detection, analysis, and public release of the event alert during the fourth observing run of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA collaboration.
The detection of GW230529 occurred just five days into the fourth observing run, allowing for immediate analysis and the prompt release of a public alert. This announcement informed the astronomical community of the merger event, which took place approximately 650 million light-years away from Earth.
Despite the timely detection, the exact direction of the gravitational-wave source could not be determined due to observations being conducted by only one gravitational-wave detector at the time, limiting the ability to pinpoint the source's location in deep space.