MULTI-MESSENGER ASTRONOMY OF GRAVITATIONAL-WAVE SOURCES WITH FLEXIBLE WIDE-AREA RADIO TRANSIENT SURVEYS

作者:Yancey Cregg C; Bear Brandon E; Akukwe Bernadine; Chen Kevin; Dowell Jayce; Gough Jonathan D; Kanner Jonah; Kavic Michael; Obenberger Kenneth; Shawhan Peter; Simonetti John H; Taylor Gregory B; Tsai Jr Wei
来源:Astrophysical Journal, 2015, 812(2): 168.
DOI:10.1088/0004-637X/812/2/168

摘要

We explore opportunities for multi-messenger astronomy using gravitational waves (GWs) and prompt, transient low-frequency radio emission to study highly energetic astrophysical events. We review the literature on possible sources of correlated emission of GWs and radio transients, highlighting proposed mechanisms that lead to a short-duration, high-flux radio pulse originating from the merger of two neutron stars or from a superconducting cosmic string cusp. We discuss the detection prospects for each of these mechanisms by low-frequency dipole array instruments such as LWA1, the Low Frequency Array and the Murchison Widefield Array. We find that a broad range of models may be tested by searching for radio pulses that, when de-dispersed, are temporally and spatially coincident with a LIGO/Virgo GW trigger within a similar to 30 s time window and similar to 200-500 deg(2) sky region. We consider various possible observing strategies and discuss their advantages and disadvantages. Uniquely, for low-frequency radio arrays, dispersion can delay the radio pulse until after low-latency GW data analysis has identified and reported an event candidate, enabling a prompt radio signal to be captured by a deliberately targeted beam. If neutron star mergers do have detectable prompt radio emissions, a coincident search with the GW detector network and low-frequency radio arrays could increase the LIGO/Virgo effective search volume by up to a factor of similar to 2. For some models, we also map the parameter space that may be constrained by non-detections.

  • 出版日期2015-10-20