Distribution of compact object mergers around galaxies

Abstract

Compact object mergers are one of the currently favored models for the origin of GRBs. The discovery of optical afterglows and identification of the nearest, presumably host, galaxies allows the analysis of the distribution of burst sites with respect to these galaxies. Using a model of stellar binary evolution we synthesize a population of compact binary systems which merge within the Hubble time. We include the kicks in the supernovae explosions and calculate orbits of these binaries in galactic gravitational potentials. We present the resulting distribution of merger sites and discuss the results in the framework of the observed GRB afterglows.