Constraints on LIGO/Virgo Compact Object Mergers from Late-time Radio Observations

Abstract

We present results from a search for radio afterglows of compact object mergers conducted with the Australian SKA Pathfinder. We used data from four epochs of the Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey to search compact binary merger localization regions observed during the LIGO/Virgo O2, and O3 observing runs. Our investigation focused on eleven events (published in the GWTC-1, GWTC-2, and GWTC-3 catalogues of gravitational-wave events) with 90\% posterior localisations smaller than $150\,\deg^2$ and $\ge$99\% probabilities of being of astrophysical origin, to identify potential radio afterglow-like transients up to $\lesssim$1500 days post-merger. We identified candidate afterglow-type variable sources in the 90\% localisation for events -- GW190503, GW200202 and GW200208, which were ruled out as unlikely to be related to the corresponding GW event on further analysis. Since we find no likely candidate counterparts, we constrain the inclination angle and the circum-merger density at isotropic equivalent energies ranging from $2\times10^{51} -1\times10^{54}\rm \:erg$. These constraints are based on the assumption that the electron energy distribution in the associated jets follows a power-law index of $ p = 2.2$, with 1% of the shock energy in the magnetic field ($ \epsilon_B = 0.01$) and 10% in the electrons ($\epsilon_e = 0.1$). We discuss the detectability of late-time afterglows as a function of merger distance and inclination angles with millijansky surveys.