Gravitational Waves, Gamma-Ray Bursts, and the Multi-Messenger Exploration of the Transient Sky

引力波、伽马射线暴和瞬变天空的多信使探索

• 批准号: 1307623
• 负责人: Alessandra Corsi
• 金额: $ 12.6万
• 依托单位: George Washington University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-05-15 至 2014-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1307623&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Gravitational; Waves; Gamma; Ray; Bursts

The detection of gravitational waves will provide a totally new view of the transient sky. The advanced LIGO, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory, will soon open an era when mysterious questions regarding gamma-ray bursts, the most relativistic and energetic stellar explosions, will be clarified via multi-messenger studies. In this framework, the present award supports: (i) the training of a graduate student who can work, within the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, on LIGO searches in coincidence with gamma-ray bursts; (ii) studies related to the electromagnetic follow-up of LIGO-Virgo triple coincidence triggers; (iii) searches for "longer-duration" gravitational wave signals, aimed at probing the magnetar progenitor scenario for gamma-ray bursts. The detection of gravitational waves could probe, for the first time directly, the nature of gamma-ray burst progenitors. The discovery of an "orphan afterglow" via electromagnetic follow-up of a gravitational wave trigger, would yield the most dramatic confirmation of the jet model for gamma-ray bursts. The detection of a longer-duration gravitational wave signal in coincidence with a gamma-ray burst, could probe the nature of the central engine (magnetar versus black-hole), and explain some of the most puzzling observational properties of the early afterglow phase.An important component of this project is the training of graduate and undergraduate students at being the next generation of astrophysicists: scientists capable of bridging astronomy and gravitational physics. Students' participation in LIGO engineering runs dedicated to the preparation of the advanced detectors, is encouraged. A wider dissemination of the concept of gravitational wave astronomy, and awareness of LIGO as the US national facility dedicated to opening a new era in astronomy, are promoted through lectures offered at a local planetarium. The last serves public school students belonging, for the vast majority, to underrepresented groups.

引力波的探测将为瞬变天空提供全新的视角。先进的 LIGO（激光干涉仪引力波天文台）很快将开启一个时代，有关伽马射线暴（最具相对论性和高能的恒星爆炸）的神秘问题将通过多信使研究得到澄清。在此框架内，本奖项支持：(i) 培训一名研究生，他们可以在 LIGO 科学合作组织内从事与伽马射线暴同时进行的 LIGO 搜索工作； (ii) 与 LIGO-Virgo 三重符合触发器的电磁跟踪相关的研究； (iii) 搜索“较长持续时间”的引力波信号，旨在探测磁星祖星场景中的伽马射线爆发。引力波的探测可以首次直接探测伽马射线爆发前体的本质。通过引力波触发的电磁跟踪发现的“孤儿余辉”将为伽马射线爆发的喷流模型提供最引人注目的确认。检测与伽马射线爆发同时发生的较长持续时间的引力波信号，可以探测中央引擎的性质（磁星与黑洞），并解释早期余辉阶段的一些最令人费解的观测特性。该项目的一个重要组成部分是培训研究生和本科生成为下一代天体物理学家：能够连接天文学和引力物理学的科学家。鼓励学生参与致力于准备先进探测器的 LIGO 工程运行。通过在当地天文馆举办的讲座，更广泛地传播引力波天文学的概念，并提高人们对 LIGO 作为致力于开启天文学新时代的美国国家设施的认识。最后一个服务对象是绝大多数属于代表性不足群体的公立学校学生。