Gravitational Wave Transient Astrophysics with LIGO

自从引力波的历史性发现开启了一种新的天体物理学的曙光以来的五年里，引力波继续探索宇宙，并揭示了宇宙中一些最晦涩的奥秘。根据广义相对论，引力波是由黑洞或中子星等大质量天体加速产生的时空曲率的微小振荡。这些波携带的信息与光子、中微子和宇宙射线的信息是不同的，是互补的--这是多信使天体物理学的时代。NSF资助的激光干涉仪引力波天文台(LIGO)是目前世界上最灵敏的引力波探测器。自2015年首次发现引力波以来，LIGO及其姊妹项目室女座现在已经探测到数十次双星黑洞碰撞，并正在探索曾经只是理论上的黑洞的起源和性质。具有里程碑意义的2017年双星中子星(BNS)合并GW170817的多信使观测产生了大量额外发现，并促使该领域以更快的速度增长。该奖项支持佐治亚理工学院在LIGO数据中对引力波瞬变进行探测、表征和天体物理解释的LIGO科学，朝着科学的新前沿和对宇宙的更深入了解迈进。该奖项支持的团队在为LIGO科学合作的关键任务和出版物做出贡献方面有着长期的记录，并将继续通过独立于形态的技术、基于模板的方法和多信使策略的组合参与核心LIGO科学。该小组将开发数据分析基础设施，研究数据质量的影响，并利用LIGO科学协作使用的三种算法参与对候选事件的分析，这三种算法是：BayesWave，用于波形重建和事件表征的独立于模型的代码；RIFT，使用模板族和数字相对论波形进行快速参数推断的代码；以及PyGRB，用于探测与伽马射线暴等天体物理事件的重合。该团队还将探索理解特殊天体物理目标的新方法，如中子星合并后事件、黑洞双曲线相遇以及与中微子事件的重合。该奖项将受益于佐治亚州理工学院相对论天体物理中心的协同团队的合作，该团队包括计算天体物理学、宇宙学、粒子天体物理学、天文学、计算学院的专家，亚特兰大的一个强大的外展项目，通过与LIGO科学合作的联系得到加强，以及对多样性、公平和包容性以及女性参与STEM的坚定承诺。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。

In the five years since the historic discovery of gravitational waves unlocked the dawn of a new kind of astrophysics, gravitational waves have continued to probe the cosmos and reveal some of the most obscure mysteries of the universe. According to the theory of General Relativity, gravitational waves are tiny oscillations of the curvature of space-time produced by the acceleration of massive astrophysical objects, such as colliding black holes or neutron stars. The information these waves carry is different and complementary to that of photons, neutrinos and cosmic rays -- this is the era of multi-messenger astrophysics. The NSF-funded Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) is currently the most sensitive gravitational wave-detector in the world. Following its first discovery of gravitational waves in 2015, LIGO and its sister project Virgo together have now detected dozens of binary black hole collisions, and are exploring the origins and nature of black holes that were once only theorized about. The landmark 2017 multi-messenger observation of binary neutron star (BNS) merger GW170817 yielded a wealth of additional discoveries, and has prompted the field to grow at an even more rapid pace. This award supports LIGO science performed at the Georgia Institute of Technology for the detection, characterization and astrophysical interpretation of gravitational-wave transients in LIGO data, towards a new frontier in science and a deeper understanding of the universe. The team supported by this award has a long record of contributing to mission-critical tasks and publications of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, and will continue to engage in core LIGO science through a combination of morphology-independent techniques, template-based approaches, and multi-messenger strategies. The team will enable LIGO science by developing data analysis infrastructure, studying the impact of data quality and participating in the analysis of candidate events using three algorithms in use by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration: BayesWave, a model-independent code for waveform reconstruction and event characterization; RIFT, a code for rapid parameter inference using template families and numerical relativity waveforms; and PyGRB, for the detection of coincidences with astrophysical events such as gamma-ray bursts. The team will also explore novel approaches for understanding special astrophysical targets, such as neutron-star post-merger events, black hole hyperbolic encounters, and coincidences with neutrino events. The award will benefit from the collaboration of a synergistic team at the Georgia Tech Center for Relativistic Astrophysics which includes experts in computational astrophysics, cosmology, particle astrophysics, astronomy, the college of computing, a strong outreach program in Atlanta enhanced by the ties to the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, and a firm commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and the engagement of women in STEM.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.