RUI: Dense Matter and Gravitational Waves: The Coalescence of Neutron Star Binaries

激光干涉仪引力波天文台(LIGO)即将对引力波进行首次直接探测。随着先进LIGO灵敏度的提高，我们预计将进入一个天文学时代，在这个时代，频繁的引力波测量被用来了解天体物理源。双中子星的螺旋和合并是许多引力波观测的一个可能的来源，这种系统的螺旋的波形模型可以用来通过匹配滤波来检测信号。然而，接近合并的附加物理不会被检测模板捕获。随着恒星的合并，引力波形还将取决于恒星核心中物质的性质。相关的行为被编码在致密物质的状态方程中。它对引力波形的影响还没有完全建模；尽管在合并的激励和数值模拟中不断改进的分析模型都提供了信息，但完整的图景仍然难以捉摸。该奖项支持PI和她在加州州立大学富勒顿分校(CSUF)的学生的一项研究计划，通过构建具有明确误差估计的混合(分析-数值)波形和开发包含潮汐共振效应的现象学波形，来了解中子星物质对激旋和合并的影响。结果将被纳入公共LIGO算法库，用于具有完整数据分析基础设施的现实搜索和参数估计研究。拟议中的研究对于最大限度地提高NSF在LIGO投资的天体物理回报至关重要。随着Advanced LIGO的发展，对测量潜力的更好理解将为配置决策提供信息。对中子星物质效应的引力波测量可能会给核密度以上的物质状态方程带来新的曙光，这一状态方程目前尚不确定，也是核物理和天体物理学的一个关键研究课题。这项建议还支持本科生和硕士学生积极参与CSUF的物理项目，CSUF是一所主要面向本科生的拉美裔服务机构，教学和研究紧密结合。让学生参与前沿研究，将他们介绍给引力波科学界，激发他们未来对科学的参与，并发展广泛适用的技能。国际天文学协会积极参与LIGO的推广，并将使学生、大学和周围社区参与到这一新的天文学领域的兴奋中来。

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) is on the brink of making the first direct detections of gravitational waves. With the improved sensitivity of Advanced LIGO, we expect to enter an era of astronomy in which frequent gravitational-wave measurements are used to learn about astrophysical sources. The inspiral and merger of binary neutron stars is a likely source for many gravitational-wave observations, and waveform models for the inspiral of such systems can be used to detect the signals using matched filtering. However, additional physics near merger is not captured by detection templates. As the stars coalesce, the gravitational waveforms will depend additionally on the properties of matter in the core of the stars. The relevant behavior is encoded in the equation of state of dense matter. Its effects on gravitational waveforms have not yet been fully modeled; while ever-improving analytic models in the inspiral and numerical simulations of the merger each contribute information, a complete picture remains elusive. This award supports a program of research by the PI and her students at California State University Fullerton (CSUF) to understand the effects of neutron-star matter on inspiral and merger, both by constructing hybrid (analytical-numerical) waveforms with explicit error estimates and by developing phenomenological waveforms which incorporate tidal resonance effects. The results will be incorporated into the public LIGO Algorithm Library for use in realistic search and parameter-estimation studies with the full data analysis infrastructure. The proposed research is essential to maximize the astrophysical return on NSF's investment in LIGO. Improved understanding of measurement potential will inform configuration decisions as Advanced LIGO develops. Gravitational-wave measurements of neutron-star matter effects will potentially shine new light on the equation of state of matter above nuclear density, which is currently uncertain and a key research topic in both nuclear physics and astrophysics. This proposal also supports active involvement by undergraduate and masters students in the Physics program at CSUF, a primarily undergraduate Hispanic-serving institution with strong integration of teaching and research. Including students in cutting-edge research introduces them to the gravitational-wave science community, kindles future participation in science, and develops broadly applicable skills. The PI is actively involved in LIGO outreach, and will engage students, the University, and the surrounding community in the excitement of this new field of astronomy.