Neutron Star Mergers in Active Galactic Nucleus Accretion Disks: Cocoon and Ejecta Shock Breakouts

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-12-2021

Publication Title

Astrophysical Journal Letters

Volume

906

Issue

2

First page number:

1

Last page number:

7

Abstract

Neutron star mergers are believed to occur in accretion disks around supermassive black holes. Here we show that a putative jet launched from the merger of a binary neutron star (BNS) or a neutron star–black hole (NSBH) merger occurring at the migration trap in an active galactic nucleus (AGN) disk would be choked. The jet energy is deposited within the disk materials to power a hot cocoon. The cocoon is energetic enough to break out from the AGN disk and produce a bright X-ray shock breakout transient peaking at ~0.15 days after the merger. The peak luminosity is estimated as... (see full abstract in article).

Disciplines

Stars, Interstellar Medium and the Galaxy

Language

English

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