Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger

B. P. Abbott(California Institute of Technology), R. Abbott(California Institute of Technology), T. D. Abbott(Louisiana State University), M. R. Abernathy(California Institute of Technology), F. Acernese(University of Salerno), K. Ackley(University of Florida), C. Adams(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), T. Adams(Université Savoie Mont Blanc), P. Addesso(University of Salerno), R. X. Adhikari(California Institute of Technology), V. B. Adya(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), C. Affeldt(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), M. Agathos(National Institute for Subatomic Physics), K. Agatsuma(National Institute for Subatomic Physics), N. Aggarwal(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), O. D. Aguiar(Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais), L. Aiello(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Roma Tor Vergata), A. Ain(Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics), P. Ajith(Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), B. Allen(Leibniz University Hannover), A. Allocca(University of Pisa), P. A. Altin(Australian National University), S. B. Anderson(California Institute of Technology), W. G. Anderson(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), K. Arai(California Institute of Technology), M. A. Arain(University of Florida), M. C. Araya(California Institute of Technology), C. C. Arceneaux(University of Mississippi), J. S. Areeda(California State University, Fullerton), N. Arnaud(Université Paris-Sud), K. G. Arun(Chennai Mathematical Institute), S. Ascenzi(University of Rome Tor Vergata), G. Ashton(University of Southampton), M. Ast(Universität Hamburg), S. M. Aston(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), P. Astone(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I), P. Aufmuth(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), C. Aulbert(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), S. Babak(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), P. Bacon(Délégation Paris 7), M. K. M. Bader(National Institute for Subatomic Physics), P. T. Baker(Montana State University), F. Baldaccini(University of Perugia), G. Ballardin(European Gravitational Observatory), S. W. Ballmer(Syracuse University), J. C. Barayoga(California Institute of Technology), S. E. Barclay(University of Glasgow), B. C. Barish(California Institute of Technology), D. Barker, F. Barone(University of Salerno), B. Barr(University of Glasgow), L. Barsotti(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), M. Barsuglia(Délégation Paris 7), D. Barta(HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics), J. Bartlett, M. A. Barton, I. Bartos(Columbia University), R. Bassiri(Stanford University), A. Basti(University of Pisa), J. C. Batch, C. Baune(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), V. Bavigadda(European Gravitational Observatory), M. Bazzan(University of Padua), B. Behnke(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), M. Bejger, Krzysztof Belczyński(Astronomical Observatory), A. S. Bell(University of Glasgow), C. Bell(University of Glasgow), B. K. Berger(California Institute of Technology), J. Bergman, G. Bergmann(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), C. P. L. Berry(University of Birmingham), D. Bersanetti(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova), A. Bertolini(National Institute for Subatomic Physics), J. Betzwieser(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), S. Bhagwat(Syracuse University), R. Bhandare(Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology), I. A. Bilenko(Lomonosov Moscow State University), G. Billingsley(California Institute of Technology), J. Birch(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), R. Birney(University of the West of Scotland), O. Birnholtz(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), S. Biscans(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), A. Bisht(Leibniz University Hannover), M. Bitossi(European Gravitational Observatory), C. Biwer(Syracuse University), M. A. Bizouard(Université Paris-Sud), J. K. Blackburn(California Institute of Technology), C. D. Blair(The University of Western Australia), D. G. Blair(The University of Western Australia), R. M. Blair, S. Bloemen(Radboud University Nijmegen), O. Bock(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), T. P. Bodiya(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), M. Boër(Université Côte d'Azur), G. Bogaert(Université Côte d'Azur), C. Bogan(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), A. Bohé(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), P. Bojtos(Eötvös Loránd University), C. Bond(University of Birmingham), F. Bondu(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), R. Bonnand(Université Savoie Mont Blanc), B. A. Boom(National Institute for Subatomic Physics), R. Bork(California Institute of Technology), V. Boschi(University of Pisa), S. Bose(Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics), Y. Bouffanais(Délégation Paris 7), A. Bozzi(European Gravitational Observatory), C. Bradaschia(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pisa), P. R. Brady(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), V. B. Braginsky(Lomonosov Moscow State University), M. Branchesi(University of Urbino), J. E. Brau(University of Oregon), T. Briant(Sorbonne Université), A. Brillet(Université Côte d'Azur), M. Brinkmann(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), V. Brisson(Université Paris-Sud), P. Brockill(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), A. F. Brooks(California Institute of Technology), D. Brown(Syracuse University), D. Brown(Syracuse University), N. M. Brown(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), C. C. Buchanan(Louisiana State University), A. Buikema(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), T. Bulik(Astronomical Observatory), H. J. Bulten(National Institute for Subatomic Physics), A. Buonanno(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), D. Buskulic(Université Savoie Mont Blanc), C. Buy(Délégation Paris 7), R. L. Byer(Stanford University), M. Cabero(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), L. Cadonati(Georgia Institute of Technology), G. Cagnoli(Université de Lyon), C. Cahillane(California Institute of Technology), J. Calderón Bustillo(Georgia Institute of Technology), T. A. Callister(California Institute of Technology), E. Calloni(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Napoli), J. B. Camp(Goddard Space Flight Center), K. C. Cannon(University of Toronto), J. Cao(Tsinghua University), C. D. Capano(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), E. Capocasa(Délégation Paris 7), F. Carbognani(European Gravitational Observatory), S. Caride(Texas Tech University), J. Casanueva Diaz(Université Paris-Sud), C. Casentini(University of Rome Tor Vergata), S. Caudill(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), M. Cavaglià(University of Mississippi), F. Cavalier(Université Paris-Sud), R. Cavalieri(European Gravitational Observatory), G. Cella(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pisa), C. Cepeda(California Institute of Technology), L. Cerboni Baiardi(University of Urbino), G. Cerretani(University of Pisa), E. Cesarini(University of Rome Tor Vergata), R. Chakraborty(California Institute of Technology), T. Chalermsongsak(California Institute of Technology), S. J. Chamberlin(Pennsylvania State University), M. Chan(University of Glasgow), S. Chao(National Tsing Hua University), P. Charlton(Charles Sturt University), E. Chassande‐Mottin(Délégation Paris 7), Yu‐Hung Chen(University of Chicago), Yu‐Hung Chen(California Institute of Technology), C. Cheng(National Tsing Hua University), A. Chincarini(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova), A. Chiummo(European Gravitational Observatory), H. S. Cho(Korea Institute of Science & Technology Information), M. Cho(University of Maryland, College Park), J. H. Chow(Australian National University), N. Christensen(Carleton College), Q. Chu(The University of Western Australia), S. Chua(Sorbonne Université), S. Chung(The University of Western Australia), G. Ciani(University of Florida), F. Clara, J. A. Clark(Georgia Institute of Technology), F. Cleva(Université Côte d'Azur), E. Coccia(University of Rome Tor Vergata), P.‐F. Cohadon(Sorbonne Université), A. Colla(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I), Christophe Collette, L. Cominsky(Sonoma State University), M. Constancio(Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais), A. Conte(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I), L. Conti(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova), D. Cook, T. R. Corbitt(Louisiana State University), Neil J. Cornish(Montana State University), A. Corsi(Texas Tech University), S. Cortese(European Gravitational Observatory), C. A. Costa(Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais), M. W. Coughlin(Carleton College), S. B. Coughlin(Northwestern University), J.-P. Coulon(Université Côte d'Azur), S. T. Countryman(Columbia University), P. Couvares(California Institute of Technology), E. E. Cowan(Georgia Institute of Technology), D. M. Coward(The University of Western Australia), M. J. Cowart(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), D. C. Coyne(California Institute of Technology), R. Coyne(Texas Tech University), K. Craig(University of Glasgow), J. D. E. Creighton(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), J. D. E. Creighton(The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), J. Cripe(Louisiana State University), S. G. Crowder(University of Minnesota), A. M. Cruise(University of Birmingham), A. Cumming(University of Glasgow), L. Cunningham(University of Glasgow), E. Cuoco(European Gravitational Observatory), T. Dal Canton(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), S. L. Danilishin(University of Glasgow), S. D’Antonio(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Roma Tor Vergata), K. Danzmann(Leibniz University Hannover), N. S. Darman(The University of Melbourne), C. F. Da Silva Costa(University of Florida), V. Dattilo(European Gravitational Observatory), I. Dave(Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology), H. Daveloza(The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), M. Davier(Université Paris-Sud), G. S. Davies(University of Glasgow), E. J. Daw(University of Sheffield), R. Day(European Gravitational Observatory), D. DeBra(Syracuse University), D. DeBra(Stanford University), G. Debreczeni(HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics), J. Degallaix(Université de Lyon), M. De Laurentis(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Napoli), S. Deléglise(Sorbonne Université), W. Del Pozzo(University of Birmingham), T. Denker(Leibniz University Hannover), T. Dent(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), H. Dereli(Université Côte d'Azur), V. Dergachev(California Institute of Technology), R. T. DeRosa(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), R. De Rosa(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), R. DeSalvo(University of Sannio), S. Dhurandhar(Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics), M. C. Díaz(The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), L. Di Fiore(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Napoli), M. Di Giovanni(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I), A. Di Lieto(University of Pisa), S. Di Pace(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I), I. Di Palma(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), A. Di Virgilio(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pisa), G. Dojcinoski(Montclair State University), V. Dolique(Université de Lyon), F. Donovan(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), K. L. Dooley(University of Mississippi), S. Doravari(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), R. Douglas(University of Glasgow), T. P. Downes(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), M. Drago(University of Trento), R. W. P. Drever(California Institute of Technology), J. C. Driggers, Zhihui Du(Tsinghua University), M. Ducrot(Université Savoie Mont Blanc), S. E. Dwyer, T. B. Edo(University of Sheffield), M. C. Edwards(Carleton College), A. Effler(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), H.-B. Eggenstein(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), P. Ehrens(California Institute of Technology), J. Eichholz(University of Florida), Stephen S. Eikenberry(University of Florida), W. Engels(California Institute of Technology), R. C. Essick(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), T. Etzel(California Institute of Technology), M. Evans(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), T. M. Evans(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), R. Everett(Pennsylvania State University), M. Factourovich(Columbia University), V. Fafone(University of Rome Tor Vergata), H. Fair(Syracuse University), S. Fairhurst(Cardiff University), X. Fan(Tsinghua University), Q. Fang(The University of Western Australia), S. Farinon(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova), B. Farr(University of Chicago), Will M. Farr(University of Birmingham), M. Favata(Montclair State University), M. Fays(Cardiff University), H. Fehrmann(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), M. M. Fejer(Stanford University), D. Feldbaum(University of Florida), I. Ferrante(University of Pisa), E. C. Ferreira(Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais), F. Ferrini(European Gravitational Observatory), F. Fidecaro(University of Pisa), L. S. Finn(Pennsylvania State University), I. Fiori(European Gravitational Observatory), D. Fiorucci(Délégation Paris 7), R. P. Fisher(Syracuse University), R. Flaminio(Université de Lyon), M. Fletcher(University of Glasgow), H. Fong(University of Toronto), J.-D. Fournier(Université Côte d'Azur), Sebastián Franco(Université Paris-Sud), S. Frasca(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I), F. Frasconi(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pisa), M. Frede(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), Z. Frei(Eötvös Loránd University), A. Freise(University of Birmingham), R. Frey(University of Oregon), R. Frey(Université Paris-Sud), T. T. Fricke(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), P. Fritschel(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), V. V. Frolov(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), P. Fulda(University of Florida), M. Fyffe(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), H. A. Gabbard(University of Mississippi), J. R. Gair(University of Edinburgh), L. Gammaitoni(University of Perugia), S. G. Gaonkar(Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics), F. Garufi(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Napoli), Alberto Gatto(Délégation Paris 7), G. Gaur(Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar), N. Gehrels(Goddard Space Flight Center), G. Gemme(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova), B. Gendre(Université Côte d'Azur), E. Genin(European Gravitational Observatory), A. Gennai(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pisa), J. George(Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology), L. Gergely(University of Szeged), V. Germain(Université Savoie Mont Blanc), Abhirup Ghosh(Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), Archisman Ghosh(Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), S. Ghosh(Radboud University Nijmegen), J. A. Giaime(Louisiana State University), K. D. Giardina(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), A. Giazotto(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pisa), K. Gill(Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University), A. Glaefke(University of Glasgow), Joseph Gleason(University of Florida), E. Goetz(University of Michigan), E. Goetz(University of Florida), L. Gondán(Eötvös Loránd University), G. González(Louisiana State University), J. M. Gonzalez Castro(University of Pisa), A. Gopakumar(Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), Neil Gordon(University of Glasgow), M. L. Gorodetsky(Lomonosov Moscow State University), S. E. Gossan(California Institute of Technology), M. Gosselin(European Gravitational Observatory), R. Gouaty(Université Savoie Mont Blanc), C. Graef(University of Glasgow), P. B. Graff(University of Maryland, College Park), M. Granata(Université de Lyon), A. Grant(University of Glasgow), S. Gras(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), C. Gray, G. Greco(University of Urbino), A. C. Green(University of Birmingham), R. J. S. Greenhalgh(Rutherford Appleton Laboratory), P. Groot(Radboud University Nijmegen), H. Grote(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), S. Grünewald(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), G. M. Guidi(University of Urbino), X. Guo(Tsinghua University), A. Gupta(Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics), Manoj Gupta(Institute for Plasma Research), K. E. Gushwa(California Institute of Technology), E. K. Gustafson(California Institute of Technology), R. Gustafson(University of Michigan), J. J. Hacker(California State University, Fullerton), E. D. Hall(Washington State University), E. D. Hall(California Institute of Technology), G. Hammond(University of Glasgow), M. Haney(Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), M. M. Hanke(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), J. Hanks, C. Hanna(Pennsylvania State University), M. D. Hannam(Cardiff University), J. Hanson(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), T. Hardwick(Louisiana State University), J. Harms(University of Urbino), I. W. Harry(American University), I. W. Harry(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), M. J. Hart(University of Glasgow), M. T. Hartman(University of Florida), C.‐J. Haster(University of Birmingham), K. Haughian(University of Glasgow), J. Healy(Rochester Institute of Technology), J. Heefner(California Institute of Technology), A. Heidmann(Sorbonne Université), M. C. Heintze(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), Gerhard Heinzel(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), H. Heitmann(Université Côte d'Azur), P. Hello(Université Paris-Sud), G. Hemming(European Gravitational Observatory), M. Hendry(University of Glasgow), I. S. Heng(University of Glasgow), J. Hennig(University of Glasgow), A. W. Heptonstall(California Institute of Technology), M. Heurs(Leibniz University Hannover), S. Hild(University of Glasgow), D. Hoak(University of Massachusetts Amherst), K. A. Hodge(California Institute of Technology), D. Hofman(Université de Lyon), S. E. Hollitt(The University of Adelaide), K. Holt(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), D. E. Holz(University of Chicago), P. Hopkins(Cardiff University), David J. Hosken(The University of Adelaide), J. Hough(University of Glasgow), E. A. Houston(University of Glasgow), E. J. Howell(The University of Western Australia), Yi-Ming Hu(University of Glasgow), S. Huang(National Tsing Hua University), E. A. Huerta(Northwestern University), D. Huet(Université Paris-Sud), B. Hughey(Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University), S. Husa(Fundació Universitat-Empresa de les Illes Balears), S. H. Huttner(University of Glasgow), T. Huynh–Dinh(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), A. Idrisy(Pennsylvania State University), N. Indik(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), D. R. Ingram, R. Inta(Texas Tech University), H. N. Isa(University of Glasgow), J.-M. Isac(Sorbonne Université), M. Isi(California Institute of Technology), G. Islas(California State University, Fullerton), T. Isogai(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), B. R. Iyer(Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), K. Izumi, Mindy Jacobson(California Institute of Technology), T. Jacqmin(Sorbonne Université), H. Jang(Korea Institute of Science & Technology Information), K. Jani(Georgia Institute of Technology), P. Jaranowski(University of Białystok), S. Jawahar(University of Strathclyde), F. Jiménez‐Forteza(Fundació Universitat-Empresa de les Illes Balears), W. W. Johnson(Louisiana State University), Nathan K. Johnson-McDaniel(Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), D. I. Jones(University of Southampton), R. W. L. Jones(University of Glasgow), R. J. G. Jonker(National Institute for Subatomic Physics), L. Ju(The University of Western Australia), K. Haris(Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram), C. V. Kalaghatgi(Chennai Mathematical Institute), V. Kalogera(Northwestern University), S. Kandhasamy(University of Mississippi), G. Kang(Korea Institute of Science & Technology Information), J. B. Kanner(California Institute of Technology), S. Karki(University of Oregon), M. Kasprzack(Université Paris-Sud), E. Katsavounidis(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), W. Katzman(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), S. Kaufer(Leibniz University Hannover), T. Kaur(The University of Western Australia), K. Kawabe, F. Kawazoe(Leibniz University Hannover), F. Kéfélian(Université Côte d'Azur), M. S. Kehl(University of Toronto), D. Keitel(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), D. B. Kelley(Syracuse University), W. Kells(California Institute of Technology), R. Kennedy(University of Sheffield), D. G. Keppel(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), J. S. Key(The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), A. Khalaidovski(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), F. Y. Khalili(Lomonosov Moscow State University), I. Khan(Gran Sasso Science Institute), S. Khan(Cardiff University), Z. Khan(Institute for Plasma Research), Е. А. Хазанов(Institute of Applied Physics), N. Kijbunchoo, C. Kim(Korea Institute of Science & Technology Information), J. Kim(Pusan National University), K. Kim(Hanyang University), Nam-Gyu Kim(Korea Institute of Science & Technology Information), Namjun Kim(Korea Institute of Science & Technology Information), Y.-M. Kim(Pusan National University), E. J. King(The University of Adelaide), Peter King, D. L. Kinzel(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), J. S. Kissel, L. Kleybolte(Universität Hamburg), S. Klimenko(University of Florida), S. M. Koehlenbeck(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), K. Kokeyama(Louisiana State University), S. Koley(National Institute for Subatomic Physics), V. Kondrashov(California Institute of Technology), A. Kontos(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), S. Koranda(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), M. Korobko(Universität Hamburg), W. Z. Korth(California Institute of Technology), I. Kowalska(Astronomical Observatory), D. B. Kozak(California Institute of Technology), V. Kringel(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), B. Krishnan(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), A. Królak(Institute of Mathematics), C. Krueger(Leibniz University Hannover), A. Królak(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), P. Kumar(University of Toronto), S. Kumar(University of Glasgow), L. Kuo(National Tsing Hua University), A. Kutynia(National Centre for Nuclear Research), P. Kwee(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), B. D. Lackey(Syracuse University), M. Landry, J. Lange(Rochester Institute of Technology), B. Lantz(Stanford University), P. D. Lasky(Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute), A. Lazzarini(California Institute of Technology), C. Lazzaro(Georgia Institute of Technology), P. Leaci(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), S. Leavey(University of Glasgow), E. O. Lebigot(Délégation Paris 7), Chang‐Hwan Lee(Pusan National University), H. K. Lee(Seoul National University), Hyung Mok Lee(Seoul National University), K. Lee(University of Glasgow), A. Lenon(Syracuse University), M. Leonardi(University of Trento), J. R. Leong(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), N. Leroy(Université Paris-Sud), N. Letendre(Université Savoie Mont Blanc), Y. Levin(Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute), B. M. Levine, T. G. F. Li(California Institute of Technology), A. Libson(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), T. B. Littenberg(University of Alabama in Huntsville), N. A. Lockerbie(University of Strathclyde), J. Logue(University of Glasgow), A. L. Lombardi(University of Massachusetts Amherst), L. T. London(Cardiff University), J. E. Lord(Syracuse University), M. Lorenzini(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Roma Tor Vergata), V. Loriette(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), M. Lormand(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), G. Losurdo(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Firenze), J. D. Lough(Leibniz University Hannover), C. O. Loustó(Rochester Institute of Technology), Geoffrey Lovelace(California State University, Fullerton), H. Lück(Leibniz University Hannover), A. P. Lundgren(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), Jun Luo(Carleton College), Ryan S. Lynch(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), Y. Ma(The University of Western Australia), T. MacDonald(Stanford University), B. Machenschalk(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), M. MacInnis(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), D. M. Macleod(Louisiana State University), F. Magaña‐Sandoval(Syracuse University), R. M. Magee(Washington State University), M. Mageswaran(California Institute of Technology), E. Majorana(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I), I. Maksimovic(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), V. Malvezzi(University of Rome Tor Vergata), N. Man(Université Côte d'Azur), Ilya Mandel(University of Birmingham), V. Mandic(University of Minnesota), V. Mangano(University of Glasgow), G. L. Mansell(Australian National University), M. Manske(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), M. Mantovani(European Gravitational Observatory), F. Marchesoni(Università di Camerino), F. Marion(Université Savoie Mont Blanc), Szabolcs Márka(Columbia University), Z. Márka(Columbia University), A. S. Markosyan(Stanford University), E. Maros(California Institute of Technology), F. Martelli(University of Urbino), Lionel Martellini(Université Côte d'Azur), I. W. Martin(University of Glasgow), R. M. Martin(University of Florida), Д. В. Мартынов(California Institute of Technology), J. N. Marx(California Institute of Technology), K. Mason(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), A. Masserot(Université Savoie Mont Blanc), T. J. Massinger(Syracuse University), M. Masso‐Reid(University of Glasgow), F. Matichard(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), L. Matone(Columbia University), N. Mavalvala(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), N. Mazumder(Washington State University), G. Mazzolo(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), R. McCarthy, D. E. McClelland(Australian National University), S. McCormick(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), S. C. McGuire(Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College), G. McIntyre(California Institute of Technology), J. McIver(California Institute of Technology), D. J. McManus(Australian National University), S. T. McWilliams(West Virginia University), D. Meacher(Pennsylvania State University), G. D. Meadors(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), J. Meidam(National Institute for Subatomic Physics), A. Melatos(The University of Melbourne), G. Mendell, D. Mendoza-Gandara(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), R. A. Mercer(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), E. L. Merilh, M. Merzougui(Université Côte d'Azur), S. Meshkov(California Institute of Technology), C. Messenger(University of Glasgow), C. Messick(Pennsylvania State University), P. M. Meyers(University of Minnesota), F. Mezzani(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I), H. Miao(University of Birmingham), C. Michel(Université de Lyon), H. Middleton(University of Birmingham), Е. Е. Михайлов(William & Mary), L. Milano(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Napoli), J. Miller(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), M. Millhouse(Montana State University), Y. Minenkov(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Roma Tor Vergata), J. Ming(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), S. Mirshekari(American Institute for Economic Research), C. Mishra(Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), S. Mitra(Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics), O. Miyakawa(Lomonosov Moscow State University), G. Mitselmakher(University of Florida), R. Mittleman(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), A. Moggi(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pisa), M. Mohan(European Gravitational Observatory), S. R. P. Mohapatra(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), M. Montani(University of Urbino), B. C. Moore(Montclair State University), C. J. Moore(University of Cambridge), D. Moraru, G. Moreno, S. R. Morriss(The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), K. Mossavi(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), B. Mours(Université Savoie Mont Blanc), C. M. Mow–Lowry(University of Birmingham), C. Mueller(University of Florida), G. Mueller(University of Florida), A. W. Muir(Cardiff University), Arunava Mukherjee(Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), Debnandini Mukherjee(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), S. Mukherjee(The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), N. Mukund(Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics), A. Mullavey(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), J. Münch(The University of Adelaide), D. Murphy(Columbia University), P. G. Murray(University of Glasgow), A. Mytidis(University of Florida), I. Nardecchia(University of Rome Tor Vergata), L. Naticchioni(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I), R. K. Nayak(Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata), V. Necula(University of Florida), K. Nedkova(University of Massachusetts Amherst), G. Nelemans(Radboud University Nijmegen), M. Néri(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova), A. Neunzert(University of Michigan), G. Newton(University of Glasgow), T. T. Nguyen(Australian National University), A. B. Nielsen(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), S. Nissanke(Radboud University Nijmegen), A. Nitz(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), F. Nocera(European Gravitational Observatory), D. Nolting(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), M. E. N. Normandin(The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), L. K. Nuttall(Syracuse University), J. Oberling, E. Ochsner(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), J. O’Dell(Rutherford Appleton Laboratory), E. Oelker(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), G. H. Ogin(Whitman College), J. J. Oh(National Institute for Mathematical Sciences), S. H. Oh(National Institute for Mathematical Sciences), F. Ohme(Cardiff University), M. Oliver(Fundació Universitat-Empresa de les Illes Balears), P. Oppermann(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), Richard J. Oram(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), B. O’Reilly(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), R. O’Shaughnessy(Rochester Institute of Technology), C. D. Ott(California Institute of Technology), D. J. Ottaway(The University of Adelaide), R. S. Ottens(University of Florida), H. Overmier(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), B. J. Owen(Texas Tech University), A. Pai(Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram), S. A. Pai(Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology), J. R. Palamos(University of Oregon), O. Palashov(Institute of Applied Physics), C. Palomba(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I), A. Pal‐Singh(Universität Hamburg), H. Pan(National Tsing Hua University), Y. Pan(University of Maryland, College Park), C. Pankow(Northwestern University), F. Pannarale(Cardiff University), B. C. Pant(Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology), F. Paoletti(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pisa), A. Paoli(European Gravitational Observatory), M. A. Papa(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), H. R. Paris(Stanford University), W. Parker(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), D. Pascucci(University of Glasgow), A. Pasqualetti(European Gravitational Observatory), R. Passaquieti(University of Pisa), D. Passuello(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Pisa), B. Patricelli(University of Pisa), Z. Patrick(Stanford University), B. L. Pearlstone(University of Glasgow), M. Pedraza(California Institute of Technology), R. Pedurand(Université de Lyon), L. Pekowsky(Syracuse University), A. Pele(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), S. Penn(Hobart and William Smith Colleges), A. Perreca(California Institute of Technology), Harald Pfeiffer(University of Toronto), M. Phelps(University of Glasgow), O. J. Piccinni(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I), M. Pichot(Université Côte d'Azur), M. Pickenpack(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), F. Piergiovanni(University of Urbino), V. Pierro(University of Sannio), G. Pillant(European Gravitational Observatory), L. Pinard(Université de Lyon), I. M. Pinto(University of Sannio), M. Pitkin(University of Glasgow), J. H. Poeld(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), R. Poggiani(University of Pisa), P. Popolizio(European Gravitational Observatory), A. Post(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), J. Powell(University of Glasgow), J. Prasad(Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics), V. Predoi(Cardiff University), S. S. Premachandra(Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute), T. Prestegard(University of Minnesota), Larry R. Price(California Institute of Technology), M. Prijatelj(European Gravitational Observatory), M. Principe(University of Sannio), S. Privitera(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), R. Prix(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), G. A. Prodi(University of Trento), L. Prokhorov(Lomonosov Moscow State University), O. Puncken(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), M. Punturo(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Perugia), P. Puppo(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I), M. Pürrer(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), H. Qi(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), J. Qin(The University of Western Australia), V. Quetschke(The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), E. A. Quintero(California Institute of Technology), R. Quitzow-James(University of Oregon), F. J. Raab, D. S. Rabeling(Australian National University), H. Radkins, P. Raffai(Eötvös Loránd University), S. Raja(Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology), M. Rakhmanov(The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), C. Ramet(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), P. Rapagnani(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I), V. Raymond(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), M. Razzano(University of Pisa), V. Re(University of Rome Tor Vergata), J. Read(California State University, Fullerton), C. M. Reed, T. Regimbau(Université Côte d'Azur), L. Rei(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova), S. Reid(University of the West of Scotland), D. H. Reitze(California Institute of Technology), H. Rew(William & Mary), S. D. Reyes(Syracuse University), F. Ricci(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Roma I), K. Riles(University of Michigan), N. A. Robertson(California Institute of Technology), R. Robie(University of Glasgow), F. Robinet(Université Paris-Sud), A. Rocchi(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Roma Tor Vergata), L. Rolland(Université Savoie Mont Blanc), J. G. Rollins(California Institute of Technology), V. J. Roma(University of Oregon), J. D. Romano(The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), R. Romano(University of Salerno), G. Romanov(William & Mary), J. H. Romie(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), D. Rosińska(University of Zielona Góra), S. Rowan(University of Glasgow), A. Rüdiger(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), P. Ruggi(European Gravitational Observatory), K. Ryan, S. Sachdev(California Institute of Technology), T. Sadecki, L. Sadeghian(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), L. Salconi(European Gravitational Observatory), M. Saleem(Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram), F. Salemi(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), A. Samajdar(Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata), L. Sammut(The University of Melbourne), L. M. Sampson(Northwestern University), E. J. Sanchez(California Institute of Technology), V. Sandberg, B. Sandeen(Northwestern University), G. H. Sanders(California Institute of Technology), J. R. Sanders(University of Michigan), B. Sassolas(Université de Lyon), B. S. Sathyaprakash(Cardiff University), P. R. Saulson(Syracuse University), O. Sauter(University of Michigan), R. L. Savage, A. Sawadsky(Leibniz University Hannover), P. Schale(University of Oregon), R. Schilling(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), P. Schmidt(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), P. Schmidt(California Institute of Technology), R. Schnabel(Universität Hamburg), R. M. S. Schofield(University of Oregon), A. Schönbeck(Universität Hamburg), E. Schreiber(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), D. Schuette(Leibniz University Hannover), B. F. Schutz(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), J. Scott(University of Glasgow), S. M. Scott(Australian National University), D. Sellers(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), A. S. Sengupta(Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar), D. Sentenac(European Gravitational Observatory), V. Sequino(University of Rome Tor Vergata), A. Sergeev(Institute of Applied Physics), G. Serna(California State University, Fullerton), Y. Setyawati(Radboud University Nijmegen), A. Sêvigny, D. A. Shaddock(Australian National University), T. Shaffer, S. Shah(Radboud University Nijmegen), M. S. Shahriar(Northwestern University), M. Shaltev(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), Z. Shao(California Institute of Technology), B. Shapiro(Stanford University), P. Shawhan(University of Maryland, College Park), A. Sheperd(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), D. H. Shoemaker(Georgia Institute of Technology), D. M. Shoemaker(Georgia Institute of Technology), K. Siellez(Georgia Institute of Technology), X. Siemens(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), D. Sigg, A. D. Silva(Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais), D. Simakov(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), A. Singer(California Institute of Technology), L. P. Singer(Goddard Space Flight Center), A. Singh(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), R. Singh(Louisiana State University), A. Singhal(Gran Sasso Science Institute), A. M. Sintes(Fundació Universitat-Empresa de les Illes Balears), B. J. J. Slagmolen(Australian National University), J. R. Smith(California State University, Fullerton), M. Smith(California Institute of Technology), N. D. Smith(California Institute of Technology), R. J. E. Smith(California Institute of Technology), E. J. Son(National Institute for Mathematical Sciences), B. Sorazu(University of Glasgow), F. Sorrentino(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova), T. Souradeep(Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics), A. K. Srivastava(Institute for Plasma Research), A. Staley(Columbia University), M. Steinke(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), J. Steinlechner(University of Glasgow), S. Steinlechner(University of Glasgow), D. Steinmeyer(Leibniz University Hannover), B. C. Stephens(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), S. P. Stevenson(University of Birmingham), R. Stone(The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), K. A. Strain(University of Glasgow), N. Straniero(Université de Lyon), G. Stratta(University of Urbino), N. A. Strauss(Carleton College), S. Strigin(Lomonosov Moscow State University), R. Sturani(American Institute for Economic Research), A. L. Stuver(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), T. Z. Summerscales(Andrews University), L. Sun(The University of Melbourne), P. J. Sutton(Cardiff University), B. L. Swinkels(European Gravitational Observatory), M. J. Szczepańczyk(Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University), M. Tacca(Délégation Paris 7), D. Talukder(University of Oregon), D. B. Tanner(University of Florida), M. Tápai(University of Szeged), S. P. Tarabrin(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), A. Taracchini(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), Richard W. Taylor(California Institute of Technology), T. Theeg(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), M. P. Thirugnanasambandam(California Institute of Technology), E. G. Thomas(University of Birmingham), M. Thomas(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), P. Thomas, K. A. Thorne(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), K. S. Thorne(California Institute of Technology), E. Thrane(Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute), Shubhanshu Tiwari(Gran Sasso Science Institute), V. Tiwari(Cardiff University), K. V. Tokmakov(University of Strathclyde), C. Tomlinson(University of Sheffield), M. Tonelli(University of Pisa), C. Torres(The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), C. I. Torrie(California Institute of Technology), D. Töyrä(University of Birmingham), F. Travasso(University of Perugia), G. Traylor(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), D. Trifirò(University of Mississippi), M. C. Tringali(University of Trento), L. Trozzo(University of Siena), M. Tse(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), M. Turconi(Université Côte d'Azur), D. Tuyenbayev(The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), D. Ugolini(Trinity University), B. Krishnan(Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), A. L. Urban(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), S. A. Usman(Syracuse University), H. Vahlbruch(Leibniz University Hannover), G. Vajente(California Institute of Technology), G. Valdes(The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), M. Vallisneri(California Institute of Technology), N. van Bakel(National Institute for Subatomic Physics), M. van Beuzekom(California State University, Fullerton), J. F. J. van den Brand(National Institute for Subatomic Physics), C. Van Den Broeck(National Institute for Subatomic Physics), D. C. Vander‐Hyde(California State University, Fullerton), L. van der Schaaf(National Institute for Subatomic Physics), J. V. van Heijningen(California Institute of Technology), A. A. van Veggel(HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics), M. Vardaro(University of Padua), S. Vass(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), M. Vasúth(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova), R. Vaulin(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), A. Vecchio(The University of Adelaide), G. Vedovato(University of Washington), J. Veitch(Université Savoie Mont Blanc), J. Veitch(University of Urbino), K. Venkateswara(University of Urbino), D. Verkindt(Université Savoie Mont Blanc), F. Vetrano(University of Urbino), A. Viceré(University of Urbino), S. Vinciguerra(Massachusetts Institute of Technology), D. J. Vine(Syracuse University), J.-Y. Vinet(Université Côte d'Azur), S. Vitale(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), T. Vo(University of Florida), H. Vocca(University of Perugia), C. Vorvick(Lomonosov Moscow State University), D. V. Voss(Australian National University), W. D. Vousden(Kenyon College), S. P. Vyatchanin(Kenyon College), A. R. Wade(Australian National University), L. E. Wade(Louisiana State University), M. Wade(California Institute of Technology), S. J. Waldman(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), M. Walker(Louisiana State University), L. Wallace(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), S. Walsh(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), G. Wang(Tsinghua University), Han Wang(The University of Western Australia), M. Wang(University of Glasgow), X. Wang(Australian National University), Y. Wang(The University of Western Australia), R. L. Ward(Université Savoie Mont Blanc), R. L. Ward(Australian National University), J. Warner(Université Côte d'Azur), M. Wąs(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), B. Weaver(California Institute of Technology), L.‐W. Wei(Université Côte d'Azur), M. Weinert(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), A. J. Weinstein(The University of Western Australia), R. Weiss(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), T. Welborn(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), L. Wen(The University of Western Australia), P. Weßels(Rochester Institute of Technology), T. Westphal(California Institute of Technology), K. Wette(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), J. T. Whelan(Rochester Institute of Technology), S. E. Whitcomb(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), D. J. White(University of Sheffield), B. F. Whiting(California Institute of Technology), K. Wiesner(University of Florida), C. Wilkinson(California Institute of Technology), P. A. Willems(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), L. Williams(University of Florida), R. D. Williams(Leibniz University Hannover), A. R. Williamson(Leibniz University Hannover), J. L. Willis(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), B. Willke(Leibniz University Hannover), M. H. Wimmer(Leibniz University Hannover), L. Winkelmann(Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), W. Winkler(Leibniz University Hannover), C. C. Wipf(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), A. G. Wiseman(University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee), H. Wittel(Leibniz University Hannover), G. Woan(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), J. Worden(Northwestern University), J. L. Wright(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), Guanglei Wu(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), J. Yablon(California Institute of Technology), I. Yakushin(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), W. Yam(Australian National University), H. Yamamoto(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), C. C. Yancey(University of Maryland, College Park), M. J. Yap(Australian National University), Hang Yu(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), M. Yvert(Université Savoie Mont Blanc), A. Zadrożny(Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Padova), L. Zangrando(Northwestern University), M. Zanolin(Massachusetts Institute of Technology), J.-P. Zendri(California Institute of Technology), M. Zevin(William & Mary), F. Zhang(Rochester Institute of Technology), L. Zhang(The University of Western Australia), M. Zhang(Northwestern University), Ya Zhang(Northwestern University), C. Zhao(The University of Western Australia), M. Zhou(California Institute of Technology), Z. Zhou(University of Massachusetts Amherst), X. J. Zhu(California Institute of Technology), M. E. Zucker(LIGO Scientific Collaboration), S. E. Zuraw(University of Massachusetts Amherst), J. Zweizig(LIGO Scientific Collaboration)
Physical Review Letters
February 11, 2016
10.1103/physrevlett.116.061102
Cited by 14,175Open Access
Full Text

Abstract

On September 14, 2015 at 09:50:45 UTC the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory simultaneously observed a transient gravitational-wave signal. The signal sweeps upwards in frequency from 35 to 250 Hz with a peak gravitational-wave strain of 1.0×10(-21). It matches the waveform predicted by general relativity for the inspiral and merger of a pair of black holes and the ringdown of the resulting single black hole. The signal was observed with a matched-filter signal-to-noise ratio of 24 and a false alarm rate estimated to be less than 1 event per 203,000 years, equivalent to a significance greater than 5.1σ. The source lies at a luminosity distance of 410(-180)(+160) Mpc corresponding to a redshift z=0.09(-0.04)(+0.03). In the source frame, the initial black hole masses are 36(-4)(+5)M⊙ and 29(-4)(+4)M⊙, and the final black hole mass is 62(-4)(+4)M⊙, with 3.0(-0.5)(+0.5)M⊙c(2) radiated in gravitational waves. All uncertainties define 90% credible intervals. These observations demonstrate the existence of binary stellar-mass black hole systems. This is the first direct detection of gravitational waves and the first observation of a binary black hole merger.

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