WoU-MMA: Correlating the Gravitational-Wave and Electromagnetic Sky Maps

最近从双星黑洞(BBH)和双星中子星(BNS)合并系统中探测到的引力波(GW)开启了GW和多信使天体物理领域的序幕。这些发现引发了广泛的研究，包括对广义相对论的新测试，对中子星状态方程的限制，对哈勃常数H0的新测量，以及其他。先进的GW探测器有望进一步提高其灵敏度，并在未来2-4年内进行更长时间的观测运行。这些即将到来的飞行的主要目标之一是探测BBH和BNS引力波背景(SGWB)，这是由于宇宙中所有致密双星的叠加。该项目将通过开发新的解释技术来结合GW和电磁(EM)信号，并将它们应用于现有和即将到来的数据，从而改变对SGWB的研究。该项目将通过明尼苏达科学博物馆开展许多外联活动，并将通过与明尼苏达大学的适当团体和组织联系，促进妇女参与天体物理学。该项目的主要目标如下：1)开发将SGWB定向成分与物质结构的电磁(EM)示踪相关联的技术，例如宇宙微波背景(CMB)、宇宙红外背景(CIB)和星系计数调查。2)将上述技术应用于来自aLIGO和aVirgo的现有和即将到来的GW数据，以及来自Planck的CMB/CIB数据，以及来自SDSS和(即将到来的)Euclid的星系调查数据。3)通过在全球天体物理学团体和传统天体物理学团体之间建立新的联系，促进新兴的多信使天体物理学领域的发展。SGWB-EM关联将阐明致密双星的起源和演化，潜在地解析原始(暗物质)黑洞群体。他们还有可能识别和描述SGWB的早期宇宙来源，揭示宇宙的最初时刻，并探索非常高能量的物理学。该奖项反映了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。

The recent detections of gravitational waves (GWs) from the mergers of binary black hole (BBH) and binary neutron star (BNS) systems have initiated the fields of GW and multi-messenger astrophysics. These discoveries have triggered a broad range of studies including novel tests of General Relativity, constraints on the neutron star equation of state, a new measurement of the Hubble constant H0, and others. Advanced GW detectors are expected to further improve their sensitivities, and to conduct extended observing runs in the next 2-4 years. One of the primary targets of these upcoming runs is the detection of the BBH and BNS gravitational-wave background (SGWB) due to the superposition of all compact binaries in the universe. This project will transform the study of the SGWB by developing new interpretation techniques to combine the GW and electromagnetic (EM) signals and apply them to existing and upcoming data. The project will conduct numerous outreach activities through the Science Museum of Minnesota and will promote involvement of women in astrophysics by connecting with appropriate groups and organizations at the University of Minnesota (UMN).The main objectives of the project are as follows: 1) Develop techniques for correlating the SGWB directional composition with electromagnetic (EM) tracers of matter structure such as the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the cosmic infrared background (CIB), and galaxy count surveys. 2) Apply the above techniques to the existing and upcoming GW data from aLIGO and aVirgo in correlation with the CMB/CIB data from Planck, and galaxy survey data from SDSS and (upcoming) Euclid. 3) Contribute to the development of the emerging field of multi-messenger astrophysics by establishing new connections between the GW community and the traditional astrophysics community. SGWB-EM correlations will illuminate the origin and the evolution of the compact binaries, potentially resolving the primordial (dark matter) black hole population. They also have the potential to identify and characterize the early universe sources of the SGWB, uncovering the first moments of the universe and probing the physics of very high energies.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.