Special MSI Seminar - "FRBs and Radio Signatures of Gravitational Wave Merger Events"

Kelly Gourdji (University of Amsterdam)

May 10, 2019 12:00 PM

Location: MSI Conference Room (3550 University)
Special MSI Seminar

Title: FRBs and Radio Signatures of Gravitational Wave Merger Events

Abstract:

The exciting field of fast radio bursts (FRBs) is rapidly changing, though their origin(s) remain unknown. Thanks to new radio telescopes with large fields of view, the number of known FRBs is quickly increasing, ushering us into an era where the phenomena may be studied as a population. FRB 121102 is the first source known to repeat and its precise localisation has enabled unprecedented studies of a single source. FRB 121102 remains the most well-studied FRB source and in the first part of this talk, I show how we continue to learn from it. While more FRBs are helpful in understanding how they are produced, a counterpart would be groundbreaking. In the second part of the talk, I describe the possible FRB-like radio signatures of gravitational wave merger events. I also discuss the late-time incoherent radio afterglows of merger events and what they can teach us about neutron stars. In particular, I discuss LOFAR’s follow-up strategy for both the prompt and late-time radio emission related to mergers. I also show how the prompt follow-up strategy is being applied to GRBs.