Gravitational-Wave Astrophysics: Getting Ready for the Advanced LIGO Era

引力波天体物理学：为高级 LIGO 时代做好准备

• 批准号: 1307020
• 负责人: Vassiliki Kalogera
• 金额: $ 46.43万
• 依托单位: Northwestern University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-09-01 至 2018-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1307020&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Gravitational; Wave; Astrophysics; Getting; Ready

This award supports projects in the area of astrophysical interpretation of gravitational-wave (GW) signals from binaries with two compact objects, black holes or neutron stars, through both GW data analysis, GW source modeling and interpretation. The proposed work focuses on developing a concrete framework for the processing of GW detections (or event rate upper limits) in order to extract the maximal available astrophysical information for binaries with compact objects with any mass and spin configuration. Specifically the following three main research projects are targeted: (i) parameter estimation for binaries with two compact objects using advanced applied mathematics methods, including the advancement of algorithms and computational tools, so that we can measure masses and spins of black holes and neutron stars and localize their GW emission on the sky so we can understand their physical origin; (ii) development of a quantitative framework for using GW event rates to derive constraints on astrophysical models of compact-object binary formation and evolution; and (iii) the astrophysical interpretation of multiple GW detections and associated mass and spin measurements, accounting quantitatively for GW observational biases and selection effects. Furthermore, the involvement in public outreach activities is intended to strengthen the connection between astronomy and GW physics, by focusing on projects that explain the formation of GW sources to the public.This work is of interest to the broader community of compact-object astrophysics in a wide range of contexts: e.g., stellar and binary system evolution, neutron star and black hole formation, gamma-ray bursts, stellar dynamics of globular clusters and galactic centers, as in the coming years LIGO observations can provide uniquely reliable answers to some of the long-standing questions in astronomy and astrophysics. The computational tools to be developed will be made available within and outside the LSC, and hence can benefit other LSC projects and enhance the research infrastructure for parameter estimation in other scientific and engineering contexts. Outreach activities take advantage of the existing collaboration with the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum with hundreds of thousands of visitors per year; this connection ensures the broad dissemination of research understanding in the diverse, urban environment of the Chicago metropolitan area. Our group also has an active history and interest in involving undergraduate students in research projects and promotes a framework of peer learning in tutoring and mentoring.

该奖项通过GW数据分析，GW源建模和解释，支持来自带有两个紧凑物体，黑洞或中子星的二进制物的重力波（GW）信号的项目。提出的工作着重于开发一个混凝土框架，用于处理GW检测（或事件速率上限），以便为具有任何质量和旋转配置的紧凑物体的二进制文件提取最大可用的天体物理信息。具体而言，以下三个主要研究项目是针对的：（i）使用高级应用数学方法的两个紧凑对象的二进制文件的参数估计，包括算法和计算工具的进步，以便我们可以测量黑孔和中子星的质量和旋转，以便我们在天空上局限于其物理上的gw; （ii）开发用于使用GW事件速率的定量框架来得出对紧凑型二元形成和进化的天体物理模型的限制； （iii）多种GW检测以及相关质量和自旋测量的天体物理解释，用于GW观察偏见和选择效应的定量考虑。 Furthermore, the involvement in public outreach activities is intended to strengthen the connection between astronomy and GW physics, by focusing on projects that explain the formation of GW sources to the public.This work is of interest to the broader community of compact-object astrophysics in a wide range of contexts: e.g., stellar and binary system evolution, neutron star and black hole formation, gamma-ray bursts, stellar dynamics of球状簇和银河中心，就像未来几年一样，Ligo观察可以为天文学和天体物理学中一些长期存在的问题提供独特的可靠答案。 LSC内部和外部将提供要开发的计算工具，因此可以使其他LSC项目受益，并在其他科学和工程环境中增强研究基础架构的参数估计。外展活动利用了与阿德勒天文馆和天文学博物馆的现有合作，每年成千上万的游客；这种联系可确保在芝加哥大都市地区多样化的城市环境中广泛传播研究理解。我们的小组还对让本科生参与研究项目有活跃的历史和兴趣，并促进了在辅导和指导中学习同伴学习的框架。