On the hosts of neutron star mergers in the nearby Universe

Abstract

ABSTRACT Recently, the characterization of binary systems of neutron stars has become central in various fields such as gravitational waves, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), and the chemical evolution of galaxies. In this work, we explore possible observational proxies that can be used to infer some characteristics of the delay time distribution (DTD) of neutron star mergers (NSMs). We construct a sample of model galaxies that fulfils the observed galaxy stellar mass function, star formation rate versus mass relation, and the cosmic star formation rate density. The star formation history of galaxies is described with a log-normal function characterized by two parameters: the position of the maximum and the width of the distribution. We assume a theoretical DTD that mainly depends on the lower limit and the slope of the distribution of the separations of the binary neutron star systems at birth. We find that the current rate of NSMs ($\mathcal {R}=320^{+490}_{-240}$ Gpc−3 yr−1) requires that ∼0.3 per cent of neutron star progenitors lives in binary systems with the right characteristics to lead to an NSM within a Hubble time. We explore the expected relations between the rate of NSMs and the properties of the host galaxy. We find that the most effective proxy for the shape of the DTD of NSMs is the current star formation activity of the typical host. At present, the fraction of short-GRBs observed in star-forming galaxies favours DTDs with at least ${\sim}40~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of mergers within 100 Myr. This conclusion will be put on a stronger basis with larger samples of short-GRBs with host association (e.g. 600 events at z ≤ 1).