Physics and Astronomy Colloquium
Radio Observations of Binary Neutron Star Mergers: Constraining Geometry, Energetics, Environment and Cosmology
Presented by David Kaplan, UWM
I will discuss the major uncertainties regarding the geometry,
energetics, and environment of the first EM/GW binary neutron star
merger GW170817. In particular I will look at the origin of the radio
emission, how it differs from the early-time optical/infrared
emission, and what that tells us about how the explosion proceeded. I
will show how constraints from the radio lightcurve, polarization, and
Very Long Baseline Interferometry helped provide evidence for a broad,
mildly relativistic "cocoon" along with a narrow jet. This
broke degeneracies in the gravitational wave data analysis to provide
inclination constraints and improved measurements of the Hubble
Constant. Finally, I will talk about new events from LIGO's latest
observing run, and prospects for the future.
3:30 pm, Friday, November 22, 2019
PAIS-1100, PAIS
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A schedule of talks within the Department of Physics and Astronomy is available on the P&A web site at http://physics.unm.edu/pandaweb/events/index.php