Compact Object Binaries in the Gravitational Wave Era

中子星（NS）是非常紧凑的恒星残骸，黑洞（BH）是宇宙中的致密物体，是探索从量子力学到广义相对论的物理定律的基本方面的奇妙天体物理实验室。大量的信息来自于在它们生命的最后时刻对它们的观察，当时它们是一个双星系统的成员，由于引力波（GW）的发射而合并。如果NS是双星的一员，那么这种合并也可能产生光或电磁辐射（EM），这大大增加了可以提取的天体物理信息。 这在合并事件GW 170817/GRB 170817 A的许多观测中得到了证明，其结果影响了从高能天体物理学到核物理学再到宇宙学的各种研究领域的知识。 位于斯托尼布鲁克的纽约州立大学的一个研究小组将进行理论工作，以便从今后的观测中获得最大的研究收益。 该研究计划所涵盖的主题（和技术）的多样性使其成为各级学生（包括本科生）参与的理想选择。主要研究者（PI）特别希望让女大学生参与这项研究，目的是赋予年轻女性从事科学的能力和信心，从而鼓励她们追求科学家的职业生涯。本项目将探索二元形成和演化的几个方面，以及GW-EM连接，同时探索基础物理学问题。特别是：（a）将制定一个总体框架，用于解释LIGO和Virgo GW探测器触发的NS-NS和NS-BH源辐射。我们的目标是连接的属性与他们的喷气茧系统的EM发射，从GW信号的时间延迟，和类型的紧凑的对象遗留下来的合并喷出物。 沿着来自GW的质量测量，该信息有助于约束NS物质的状态方程。 (b)它将扩展和完善在星星集群中的紧凑的物体双星的动力学形成的预测。其中的成果将是通过这一渠道产生的NS-BH二进制的质量分布的探索，并比较那些形成的字段二进制。(c)它将结合前两项研究的结果，计算NS-NS和NS-BH二进制文件的主要形成通道以及密集环境中的BH-BH预期的宽带EM辐射，提取潜在的区别特征并帮助搜索GW触发器的EM对应物。作为该项目的一部分，PI计划与斯托尼布鲁克的WISE（妇女在科学和工程）计划合作。这将涉及（a）在学年本科研究项目的监督;（B）在WISE专门设计的课程中提供客座讲座，以讨论STEM领域的机会;（c）在WISE课后计划中担任高中导师。 该项目推进了NSF宇宙大创意窗口的目标。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Neutron stars (NS), which are extremely compact stellar remnants, and black holes (BHs), the densest objects in the universe, are fantastic astrophysical laboratories for probing fundamental aspects of the laws of physics, from quantum mechanics to general relativity. A wealth of information comes from observing them in the final moments of their lives, when they are members of a binary system that merge due to the emission of gravitational waves (GWs). If a NS is member of the binary, then this merger may also produce light, or electromagnetic emission (EM), which greatly increases the astrophysical information that can be extracted. This was shown in the many observations of the merger event GW170817/GRB170817A, the results of which impacted knowledge in a variety of research areas, from high-energy astrophysics, to nuclear physics, to cosmology. A research group at the State University of New York at Stony Brook will undertake theoretical work aimed at maximizing the research gain from future observations. The variety of topics (and techniques) that this research plan encompasses makes it ideal for the involvement of students at all levels, including undergraduates. The principal investigator (PI) is especially interested in involving female undergraduate student in this research, with the goal of empowering and giving confidence to young women in their abilities to do science, and hence encouraging them to pursue careers as scientists.This project will explore several facets of binary formation and evolution, and of the GW-EM connection, while probing issues of fundamental physics. In particular: (a) It will develop a general framework for the interpretation of the radiation from NS-NS and NS-BH sources triggered by the LIGO and Virgo GW detectors. The goal is to connect the properties of binary compact merger ejecta with the EM emission of their jet-cocoon systems, the time delay from the GW signal, and the type of compact object remnant left behind. Along with mass measurements from GWs, this information aids in constraining the equation of state of NS matter. (b) It will extend and refine the predictions of dynamical formation of compact object binaries in star clusters. Among the outcomes will be an exploration of the mass distribution of NS-BH binaries produced via this channel, and a comparison to those formed from field binaries. (c) It will couple results from the first two studies to compute the broadband EM radiation expected for the main formation channels of NS-NS and NS-BH binaries, as well as BH-BH in dense environments, extracting potentially discriminating features and aiding searches for EM counterparts to GW triggers. As part of this project, the PI plans to partner with the WISE (Women In Science and Engineering) program at Stony Brook. This will involve (a) supervision of undergraduate research projects during the academic year; (b) giving guest lectures in a course specifically designed by WISE to discuss opportunities in STEM fields; (c) being a high-school mentor in the WISE after school program. This project advances the goals of the NSF 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.