Afterglows and Kilonovae Associated with Nearby Low-Luminosity Short-Duration Gamma-Ray Bursts: Application to GW170817/GRB170817A

Understand

Very recently, the gravitational-wave (GW) event GW170817 was discovered to be associated with the short gamma-ray burst (GRB) 170817A.

• Multi-wavelength follow-up observations were carried out, and X-ray, optical, and radio counterparts to GW170817 were detected.
• The observations undoubtedly indicate that GRB 170817A originates from a binary neutron star merger.
• However, the GRB falls into the low-luminosity class that could have a higher statistical occurrence rate and detection probability than the normal (high-luminosity) class.