English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Free Plan

We derive the first constraints on the time delay distribution of binaryblack hole (BBH) mergers using the LIGO-Virgo Gravitational-Wave TransientCatalog GWTC-2. Assuming that the progenitor formation rate follows the starformation rate (SFR), the data favor that $43$--$100\%$ of mergers have delaytimes $<4.5$ Gyr (90% credibility). Adopting a model for the metallicityevolution, we derive joint constraints for the metallicity-dependence of theBBH formation efficiency and the distribution of time delays between formationand merger. Short time delays are favored regardless of the assumed metallicitydependence, although the preference for short delays weakens as we considerstricter low-metallicity thresholds for BBH formation. For a $p(\tau) \propto\tau^{-1}$ time delay distribution and a progenitor formation rate that followsthe SFR without metallicity dependence, we find that $\tau_\mathrm{min}<2.2$Gyr, whereas considering only the low-metallicity $Z < 0.3\,Z_\odot$ SFR,$\tau_\mathrm{min} < 3.0$ Gyr (90% credibility). Alternatively, if we assumelong time delays, the progenitor formation rate must peak at higher redshiftsthan the SFR. For example, for a $p(\tau) \propto \tau^{-1}$ time delaydistribution with $\tau_\mathrm{min} = 4$ Gyr, the inferred progenitor ratepeaks at $z > 3.9$ (90% credibility). Finally, we explore whether the inferredformation rate and time delay distribution vary with BBH mass.

The time delay distribution and formation metallicity of LIGO-Virgo's binary black holes