From inspiral to kilonova

Introduction

Recent years have seen the blossoming of multi-messenger astrophysics where gravitational waves, photons, and neutrinos provide complementary views on cosmic explosions involving some of the Universe’s most enigmatic objects, namely neutron stars and black holes.

Breakthrough Observations

The first observation of a neutron star merger via both gravitational waves and, days later, an electromagnetic flash called "kilonova" enabled huge scientific leaps forward and was therefore celebrated as "2017 Breakthrough of the Year".

Potential of Multi-Messenger Astrophysics

Multi-messenger astrophysics has enormous potential to solve many longstanding puzzles such as:

1. The origin of the heaviest elements
2. The nature of the densest matter in the Universe

This potential is contingent upon our understanding of how the different messengers are physically connected.

Challenges in Current Understanding

The gravitational wave and electromagnetic emission stages, however, involve vastly different length and time scales and completely different physical processes. Therefore, currently strong assumptions need to be made about how both stages are actually physically connected.

Proposed Research

On the verge of this transformational era of physics, I propose to calculate for the first time the evolution from the inspiral (milliseconds before the merger) to the time after the kilonova (months later) within a common simulation framework.

Novel Methodology

This will become possible via the novel computational methodology that I have recently developed: the world-wide first Lagrangian hydrodynamics code that also consistently solves Einstein's equations. Compared to conventional Numerical Relativity codes, my new development has major advantages in evolving the merger ejecta which finally cause the kilonova.

Expected Outcomes

This project will provide for the first time detailed physical structures of neutron star merger remnants and the first one-to-one mapping between the physics of the merger and the gravitational wave, neutrino, and electromagnetic signals.

Significance

This will present a major breakthrough for both the nuclear astrophysics and the multi-messenger communities.