We explore the possibility that GW150914 , the binary black hole merger recently detected by Advanced LIGO , was formed by gravitational interactions in the core of a dense star cluster .
Using models of globular clusters with detailed N -body dynamics and stellar evolution , we show that a typical cluster with a mass of 3 \times 10 ^ { 5 } M _ { \odot } to 6 \times 10 ^ { 5 } M _ { \odot } is optimal for forming GW150914-like binary black holes that will merge in the local universe .
We identify the most likely dynamical processes for forming GW150914 in such a cluster , and we show that the detection of GW150914 is consistent with the masses and merger rates expected for binary black holes from globular clusters .
Our results show that dynamical processes provide a significant and well-understood pathway for forming binary black hole mergers in the local universe .
Understanding the contribution of dynamics to the binary black hole merger problem is a critical step in unlocking the full potential of gravitational-wave astronomy .