Searches after Gravitational Waves Using ARizona Observatories (SAGUARO): System Overview and First Results from Advanced LIGO/Virgo's Third Observing Run

M. J. Lundquist; K. Paterson; W. Fong; D. J. Sand; J. E. Andrews; I. Shivaei; P. N. Daly; S. Valenti; S. Yang; E. Christensen; A. R. Gibbs; F. Shelly; S. Wyatt; O. Eskandari; O. Kuhn; R. C. Amaro; I. Arcavi; P. Behroozi; N. Butler; L. Chomiuk; A. Corsi; M. R. Drout; E. Egami; X. Fan; R. J. Foley; B. Frye; P. Gabor; E. M. Green; C. J. Grier; F. Guzman; E. Hamden; D. A. Howell; B. T. Jannuzi; P. Kelly; P. Milne; M. Moe; A. Nugent; E. Olszewski; E. Palazzi; V. Paschalidis; D. Psaltis; D. Reichart; A. Rest; A. Rossi; G. Schroeder; P. S. Smith; N. Smith; K. Spekkens; J. Strader; D. P. Stark; D. Trilling; C. Veillet; M. Wagner; B. Weiner; J. C. Wheeler; G. G. Williams; A. Zabludoff

doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ab32f2

Searches after Gravitational Waves Using ARizona Observatories (SAGUARO): System Overview and First Results from Advanced LIGO/Virgo's Third Observing Run

M. J. Lundquist, K. Paterson, W. Fong, D. J. Sand, J. E. Andrews, I. Shivaei, P. N. Daly, S. Valenti, S. Yang, E. Christensen, A. R. Gibbs, F. Shelly, S. Wyatt, O. Eskandari, O. Kuhn, R. C. Amaro, I. Arcavi, P. Behroozi, N. Butler, L. ChomiukA. Corsi, M. R. Drout, E. Egami, X. Fan, R. J. Foley, B. Frye, P. Gabor, E. M. Green, C. J. Grier, F. Guzman, E. Hamden, D. A. Howell, B. T. Jannuzi, P. Kelly, P. Milne, M. Moe, A. Nugent, E. Olszewski, E. Palazzi, V. Paschalidis, D. Psaltis, D. Reichart, A. Rest, A. Rossi, G. Schroeder, P. S. Smith, N. Smith, K. Spekkens, J. Strader, D. P. Stark, D. Trilling, C. Veillet, M. Wagner, B. Weiner, J. C. Wheeler, G. G. Williams, A. Zabludoff

Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present Searches After Gravitational-waves Using ARizona Observatories (SAGUARO), a comprehensive effort dedicated to the discovery and characterization of optical counterparts to gravitational-wave (GW) events. SAGUARO utilizes ground-based facilities ranging from 1.5 to 10 m in diameter, located primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. We provide an overview of SAGUARO's telescopic resources, its pipeline for transient detection, and its database for candidate visualization. We describe SAGUARO's discovery component, which utilizes the 5deg² field of view optical imager on the Mt. Lemmon 1.5 m telescope, reaching limits of ≈21.3 AB mag while rapidly tiling large areas. We also describe the follow-up component of SAGUARO, used for rapid vetting and monitoring of optical candidates. With the onset of Advanced LIGO/Virgo's third observing run, we present results from the first three SAGUARO searches following the GW events S190408an, S190425z and S190426c, which serve as a valuable proof-of-concept of SAGUARO. We triggered and searched 15, 60, and 60 deg² respectively, 17.6, 1.4, and 41.8 hr after the initial GW alerts. We covered 7.8%, 3.0%, and 5.1% of the total probability within the GW event localizations, reaching 3σ limits of 19.8, 21.3, and 20.8 AB mag, respectively. Although no viable counterparts associated with these events were found, we recovered six known transients and ruled out five potential candidates. We also present Large Binocular Telescope spectroscopy of PS19eq/SN2019ebq, a promising kilonova candidate that was later determined to be a supernova. With the ability to tile large areas and conduct detailed follow-up, SAGUARO represents a significant addition to GW counterpart searches.

Original language	English
Article number	L26
Journal	Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume	881
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ab32f2
State	Published - Aug 20 2019

Access to Document

10.3847/2041-8213/ab32f2

Cite this

Lundquist, M. J., Paterson, K., Fong, W., Sand, D. J., Andrews, J. E., Shivaei, I., Daly, P. N., Valenti, S., Yang, S., Christensen, E., Gibbs, A. R., Shelly, F., Wyatt, S., Eskandari, O., Kuhn, O., Amaro, R. C., Arcavi, I., Behroozi, P., Butler, N., ... Zabludoff, A. (2019). Searches after Gravitational Waves Using ARizona Observatories (SAGUARO): System Overview and First Results from Advanced LIGO/Virgo's Third Observing Run. Astrophysical Journal Letters, 881(2), Article L26. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ab32f2

@article{f0ee751d4fa242e7a4f796739b475d11,

title = "Searches after Gravitational Waves Using ARizona Observatories (SAGUARO): System Overview and First Results from Advanced LIGO/Virgo's Third Observing Run",

abstract = "We present Searches After Gravitational-waves Using ARizona Observatories (SAGUARO), a comprehensive effort dedicated to the discovery and characterization of optical counterparts to gravitational-wave (GW) events. SAGUARO utilizes ground-based facilities ranging from 1.5 to 10 m in diameter, located primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. We provide an overview of SAGUARO's telescopic resources, its pipeline for transient detection, and its database for candidate visualization. We describe SAGUARO's discovery component, which utilizes the 5deg2 field of view optical imager on the Mt. Lemmon 1.5 m telescope, reaching limits of ≈21.3 AB mag while rapidly tiling large areas. We also describe the follow-up component of SAGUARO, used for rapid vetting and monitoring of optical candidates. With the onset of Advanced LIGO/Virgo's third observing run, we present results from the first three SAGUARO searches following the GW events S190408an, S190425z and S190426c, which serve as a valuable proof-of-concept of SAGUARO. We triggered and searched 15, 60, and 60 deg2 respectively, 17.6, 1.4, and 41.8 hr after the initial GW alerts. We covered 7.8%, 3.0%, and 5.1% of the total probability within the GW event localizations, reaching 3σ limits of 19.8, 21.3, and 20.8 AB mag, respectively. Although no viable counterparts associated with these events were found, we recovered six known transients and ruled out five potential candidates. We also present Large Binocular Telescope spectroscopy of PS19eq/SN2019ebq, a promising kilonova candidate that was later determined to be a supernova. With the ability to tile large areas and conduct detailed follow-up, SAGUARO represents a significant addition to GW counterpart searches.",

author = "Lundquist, {M. J.} and K. Paterson and W. Fong and Sand, {D. J.} and Andrews, {J. E.} and I. Shivaei and Daly, {P. N.} and S. Valenti and S. Yang and E. Christensen and Gibbs, {A. R.} and F. Shelly and S. Wyatt and O. Eskandari and O. Kuhn and Amaro, {R. C.} and I. Arcavi and P. Behroozi and N. Butler and L. Chomiuk and A. Corsi and Drout, {M. R.} and E. Egami and X. Fan and Foley, {R. J.} and B. Frye and P. Gabor and Green, {E. M.} and Grier, {C. J.} and F. Guzman and E. Hamden and Howell, {D. A.} and Jannuzi, {B. T.} and P. Kelly and P. Milne and M. Moe and A. Nugent and E. Olszewski and E. Palazzi and V. Paschalidis and D. Psaltis and D. Reichart and A. Rest and A. Rossi and G. Schroeder and Smith, {P. S.} and N. Smith and K. Spekkens and J. Strader and Stark, {D. P.} and D. Trilling and C. Veillet and M. Wagner and B. Weiner and Wheeler, {J. C.} and Williams, {G. G.} and A. Zabludoff",

year = "2019",

month = aug,

day = "20",

doi = "10.3847/2041-8213/ab32f2",

language = "English",

volume = "881",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal Letters",

issn = "2041-8205",

number = "2",

}

Lundquist, MJ, Paterson, K, Fong, W, Sand, DJ, Andrews, JE, Shivaei, I, Daly, PN, Valenti, S, Yang, S, Christensen, E, Gibbs, AR, Shelly, F, Wyatt, S, Eskandari, O, Kuhn, O, Amaro, RC, Arcavi, I, Behroozi, P, Butler, N, Chomiuk, L, Corsi, A, Drout, MR, Egami, E, Fan, X, Foley, RJ, Frye, B, Gabor, P, Green, EM, Grier, CJ, Guzman, F, Hamden, E, Howell, DA, Jannuzi, BT, Kelly, P, Milne, P, Moe, M, Nugent, A, Olszewski, E, Palazzi, E, Paschalidis, V, Psaltis, D, Reichart, D, Rest, A, Rossi, A, Schroeder, G, Smith, PS, Smith, N, Spekkens, K, Strader, J, Stark, DP, Trilling, D, Veillet, C, Wagner, M, Weiner, B, Wheeler, JC, Williams, GG & Zabludoff, A 2019, 'Searches after Gravitational Waves Using ARizona Observatories (SAGUARO): System Overview and First Results from Advanced LIGO/Virgo's Third Observing Run', Astrophysical Journal Letters, vol. 881, no. 2, L26. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ab32f2

TY - JOUR

T1 - Searches after Gravitational Waves Using ARizona Observatories (SAGUARO)

T2 - System Overview and First Results from Advanced LIGO/Virgo's Third Observing Run

AU - Lundquist, M. J.

AU - Paterson, K.

AU - Fong, W.

AU - Sand, D. J.

AU - Andrews, J. E.

AU - Shivaei, I.

AU - Daly, P. N.

AU - Valenti, S.

AU - Yang, S.

AU - Christensen, E.

AU - Gibbs, A. R.

AU - Shelly, F.

AU - Wyatt, S.

AU - Eskandari, O.

AU - Kuhn, O.

AU - Amaro, R. C.

AU - Arcavi, I.

AU - Behroozi, P.

AU - Butler, N.

AU - Chomiuk, L.

AU - Corsi, A.

AU - Drout, M. R.

AU - Egami, E.

AU - Fan, X.

AU - Foley, R. J.

AU - Frye, B.

AU - Gabor, P.

AU - Green, E. M.

AU - Grier, C. J.

AU - Guzman, F.

AU - Hamden, E.

AU - Howell, D. A.

AU - Jannuzi, B. T.

AU - Kelly, P.

AU - Milne, P.

AU - Moe, M.

AU - Nugent, A.

AU - Olszewski, E.

AU - Palazzi, E.

AU - Paschalidis, V.

AU - Psaltis, D.

AU - Reichart, D.

AU - Rest, A.

AU - Rossi, A.

AU - Schroeder, G.

AU - Smith, P. S.

AU - Smith, N.

AU - Spekkens, K.

AU - Strader, J.

AU - Stark, D. P.

AU - Trilling, D.

AU - Veillet, C.

AU - Wagner, M.

AU - Weiner, B.

AU - Wheeler, J. C.

AU - Williams, G. G.

AU - Zabludoff, A.

PY - 2019/8/20

Y1 - 2019/8/20

N2 - We present Searches After Gravitational-waves Using ARizona Observatories (SAGUARO), a comprehensive effort dedicated to the discovery and characterization of optical counterparts to gravitational-wave (GW) events. SAGUARO utilizes ground-based facilities ranging from 1.5 to 10 m in diameter, located primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. We provide an overview of SAGUARO's telescopic resources, its pipeline for transient detection, and its database for candidate visualization. We describe SAGUARO's discovery component, which utilizes the 5deg2 field of view optical imager on the Mt. Lemmon 1.5 m telescope, reaching limits of ≈21.3 AB mag while rapidly tiling large areas. We also describe the follow-up component of SAGUARO, used for rapid vetting and monitoring of optical candidates. With the onset of Advanced LIGO/Virgo's third observing run, we present results from the first three SAGUARO searches following the GW events S190408an, S190425z and S190426c, which serve as a valuable proof-of-concept of SAGUARO. We triggered and searched 15, 60, and 60 deg2 respectively, 17.6, 1.4, and 41.8 hr after the initial GW alerts. We covered 7.8%, 3.0%, and 5.1% of the total probability within the GW event localizations, reaching 3σ limits of 19.8, 21.3, and 20.8 AB mag, respectively. Although no viable counterparts associated with these events were found, we recovered six known transients and ruled out five potential candidates. We also present Large Binocular Telescope spectroscopy of PS19eq/SN2019ebq, a promising kilonova candidate that was later determined to be a supernova. With the ability to tile large areas and conduct detailed follow-up, SAGUARO represents a significant addition to GW counterpart searches.

AB - We present Searches After Gravitational-waves Using ARizona Observatories (SAGUARO), a comprehensive effort dedicated to the discovery and characterization of optical counterparts to gravitational-wave (GW) events. SAGUARO utilizes ground-based facilities ranging from 1.5 to 10 m in diameter, located primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. We provide an overview of SAGUARO's telescopic resources, its pipeline for transient detection, and its database for candidate visualization. We describe SAGUARO's discovery component, which utilizes the 5deg2 field of view optical imager on the Mt. Lemmon 1.5 m telescope, reaching limits of ≈21.3 AB mag while rapidly tiling large areas. We also describe the follow-up component of SAGUARO, used for rapid vetting and monitoring of optical candidates. With the onset of Advanced LIGO/Virgo's third observing run, we present results from the first three SAGUARO searches following the GW events S190408an, S190425z and S190426c, which serve as a valuable proof-of-concept of SAGUARO. We triggered and searched 15, 60, and 60 deg2 respectively, 17.6, 1.4, and 41.8 hr after the initial GW alerts. We covered 7.8%, 3.0%, and 5.1% of the total probability within the GW event localizations, reaching 3σ limits of 19.8, 21.3, and 20.8 AB mag, respectively. Although no viable counterparts associated with these events were found, we recovered six known transients and ruled out five potential candidates. We also present Large Binocular Telescope spectroscopy of PS19eq/SN2019ebq, a promising kilonova candidate that was later determined to be a supernova. With the ability to tile large areas and conduct detailed follow-up, SAGUARO represents a significant addition to GW counterpart searches.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85072568786&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3847/2041-8213/ab32f2

DO - 10.3847/2041-8213/ab32f2

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85072568786

SN - 2041-8205

VL - 881

JO - Astrophysical Journal Letters

JF - Astrophysical Journal Letters

IS - 2

M1 - L26

ER -

Searches after Gravitational Waves Using ARizona Observatories (SAGUARO): System Overview and First Results from Advanced LIGO/Virgo's Third Observing Run

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this