Gravitational Waves, Gamma-Ray Bursts, and the Multi-Messenger Exploration of the Transient Sky

引力波、伽马射线暴和瞬变天空的多信使探索

• 批准号: 1456447
• 负责人: Alessandra Corsi
• 金额: $ 9.93万
• 依托单位: Texas Tech University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-07-31 至 2016-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1456447&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Gravitational; Waves; Gamma; Ray; Bursts

The detection of gravitational waves will provide a totally new view of the transient sky. The advanced LIGO, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory, will soon open an era when mysterious questions regarding gamma-ray bursts, the most relativistic and energetic stellar explosions, will be clarified via multi-messenger studies. In this framework, the present award supports: (i) the training of a graduate student who can work, within the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, on LIGO searches in coincidence with gamma-ray bursts; (ii) studies related to the electromagnetic follow-up of LIGO-Virgo triple coincidence triggers; (iii) searches for "longer-duration" gravitational wave signals, aimed at probing the magnetar progenitor scenario for gamma-ray bursts. The detection of gravitational waves could probe, for the first time directly, the nature of gamma-ray burst progenitors. The discovery of an "orphan afterglow" via electromagnetic follow-up of a gravitational wave trigger, would yield the most dramatic confirmation of the jet model for gamma-ray bursts. The detection of a longer-duration gravitational wave signal in coincidence with a gamma-ray burst, could probe the nature of the central engine (magnetar versus black-hole), and explain some of the most puzzling observational properties of the early afterglow phase.An important component of this project is the training of graduate and undergraduate students at being the next generation of astrophysicists: scientists capable of bridging astronomy and gravitational physics. Students' participation in LIGO engineering runs dedicated to the preparation of the advanced detectors, is encouraged. A wider dissemination of the concept of gravitational wave astronomy, and awareness of LIGO as the US national facility dedicated to opening a new era in astronomy, are promoted through lectures offered at a local planetarium. The last serves public school students belonging, for the vast majority, to underrepresented groups.

引力波的探测将提供一种全新的视角来观察瞬变的天空。先进的LIGO激光干涉仪引力波天文台将很快开启一个时代，通过多信使研究，关于伽马射线爆发的神秘问题将被澄清。伽马射线爆发是最相对论和最高能量的恒星爆炸。在这一框架内，本奖项支持：(1)培训一名研究生，使其能够在LIGO科学协作范围内结合伽马射线暴进行LIGO研究；(2)与LIGO-室女座三重符合触发的电磁后续行动有关的研究；(3)寻找“持续时间更长”的引力波信号，目的是探索伽马射线暴的磁星先驱假设。对引力波的探测可以首次直接探测伽马射线爆发前驱物质的性质。通过对引力波触发的电磁跟踪发现“孤儿余辉”，将对伽马射线爆发的喷流模型产生最戏剧性的证实。在伽马射线爆发的同时探测到持续时间更长的引力波信号，可以探索中央引擎的性质(磁星和黑洞)，并解释早期余辉阶段一些最令人费解的观测特性。该项目的一个重要组成部分是培养研究生和本科生成为下一代天体物理学家：能够沟通天文学和引力物理学的科学家。鼓励学生参加LIGO工程运行，致力于准备先进的探测器。通过在当地天文馆举办的讲座，更广泛地传播引力波天文学的概念，并认识到LIGO是致力于开启天文学新纪元的美国国家设施。后者服务于公立学校的学生，绝大多数学生属于代表性不足的群体。