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Title: GW190521: A binary black hole merger inside an active galactic nucleus?
GW190521, the most massive binary black hole merger confidently detected by the LIGO-Virgo- KAGRA Collaboration, is the first gravitational-wave observation of an intermediate-mass black hole. The signal was followed approximately 34 days later by flare ZTF19abanrhr, detected in AGN J124942.3 þ 344929 by the Zwicky Transient Facility at the 78% spatial contour for GW190521’s sky localization. Using the GWTC-2.1 data release, we find that the association between GW190521 and flare ZTF19abanrhr as its electromagnetic counterpart is preferred over a random coincidence of the two transients with a log Bayes’ factor of 8.6, corresponding to an odds ratio of ∼5400∶1 for equal prior odds and ∼400∶1 assuming an astrophysical prior odds of 1=13. Given the association, the multimessenger signal allows for an estimation of the Hubble constant, finding H0 ¼ 102þ27 −25 km s−1 Mpc−1 when solely analyzing GW190521 and 79.2þ17.6 −9.6 km s−1 Mpc−1 assuming prior information from the binary neutron star merger GW170817, both consistent with the existing literature.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1950830
NSF-PAR ID:
10489517
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
American Physical Society
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Physical Review D
Volume:
108
Issue:
12
ISSN:
2470-0010
Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
["Gravitational waves"]
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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