WoU-MMA: Multiple Approaches to Multi-Messenger Astronomy

GW170817是天文学家对两颗中子星合并的名称，通过它的引力波警报器，相关的伽马射线爆发，以及它在所有波长的光的发光，标志着时间域多信使天文学黄金时代的开始。通过这一发现，我们对引力、核物理、最重元素的起源和宇宙学的知识都得到了极大的扩展。帮助发现GW170817的加州大学圣克鲁斯分校(UCSC)的一个研究小组将领导一个国际计划，研究引力波(GW)事件的电磁(EM)对应物。这一提议解决的首要问题是：新兴市场与GW活动有哪些对应关系？像中子星和黑洞这样的致密天体合并的人口统计学特征是什么？什么样的环境会提高中子星合并的速度？这些事件产生和驱逐了哪些元素？天文学家如何才能最好地利用所有GW和EM数据以及先进的理论模型来改进这些问题和更多问题的答案？该项目将支持两名UCSC研究生，一名从事望远镜观测工作，另一名从事理论建模和数值模拟。该计划还将致力于增加历史上被边缘化群体的成员对天体物理学的参与，交叉培养科学家和学生在视觉艺术和数字媒体方面的培训，并直接吸引数十名高中生参与我们的研究。主要科学目标是(1)发现和表征引力波(GW)事件的新电磁(EM)对应物，(2)产生跟踪从初始事件的流体力学到EM发射的合并过程的新理论模型，(3)研究致密天体合并的人口统计学，以及(4)结合数据和理论来理解r过程核合成的物理学。到该项目结束时，调查人员预计将GW事件的EM对应物的数量从1个增加到潜在的10个以上。它们将成为个别事件和更大规模的小型物体合并的特征。他们将改进理论模型，反复改进模型和数据，并使用数据、模型和先进的统计技术来测量局部宇宙膨胀率。这一奖项推进了宇宙之窗大理想的目标。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

GW170817 was the name given by astronomers to the merger of two neutron stars witnessed through its gravitational wave siren, an associated gamma-ray burst, and its glow at all wavelengths of light, marking the beginning of a golden age in time-domain multi-messenger astronomy. Through this discovery, our knowledge of gravity, nuclear physics, the origin of the heaviest elements, and cosmology were all dramatically expanded. A research team at the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC), which was instrumental in the discovery of GW170817, will lead an international program to research electromagnetic (EM) counterparts to gravitational wave (GW) events. The overriding questions addressed by this proposal are: What are the EM counterparts to GW events? What are the demographics of the mergers of compact astrophysical objects like neutron stars and black holes? What environments produce an enhanced rate of neutron-star mergers? What elements are generated and expelled by these events? How can astronomers best use all GW and EM data with advanced theoretical models to improve the answers to these questions and more? This project will support two UCSC graduate students, one in observational work from telescopes, and the other in theoretical modeling and numerical simulations. The program will also work to increase participation of members of historically marginalized groups in astrophysics, cross-fertilize the training of scientists and students in the visual arts and digital media, and engage dozens of high school students directly in our research.The main scientific goals are to (1) discover and characterize new electromagnetic (EM) counterparts to gravitational wave (GW) events, (2) produce new theoretical models that follow the merger process from hydrodynamics of the initial event to EM emission, (3) study the demographics of compact-object mergers, and (4) combine data and theory to understand the physics of r-process nucleosynthesis. By the end of this project, the investigators expect to increase the number of EM counterparts of GW events from one to potentially more than ten. They will characterize individual events and the larger population of compact-object mergers. They will improve theoretical models, iteratively improving models and data and use the data, models, and advanced statistical techniques to measure the local cosmic expansion rate. This award advances the goals of the Windows on the Universe Big Idea.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.