Abstract:
Since the breakthrough discovery of gravitational wave (GW) emission from a binary black hole merger in 2015, we have now detected at least ninety compact object mergers with the LIGO, Virgo and Kagra detectors. In particular, the first binary neutron star merger, dubbed GW170817, was observed in both gravitational and electromagnetic radiation, thus opening up a new era in multimessenger astrophysics. The multi-messenger characterisation of such an event has enabled major advances into diverse fields of modern physics from gravity, high-energy astrophysics, nuclear physics, to cosmology. In this talk, I will discuss my work in characterising binary neutron star mergers, and neutron star-black hole mergers and what is necessary to detect future electromagnetic and astroparticle counterparts of gravitational wave mergers. I will also present our work on constraining cosmology using gravitational wave standard sirens, as well as using such systems to elucidate the nature of dense matter and nuclear physics. Finally, I will present the challenges and the opportunities that have emerged in multi-messenger astrophysics, and what the future holds in this new era.
Prof. Samaya Nissanke is the 2024 Jacques Solvay International Chair in Physics (http://www.solvayinstitutes.be/html/chair.html). The seminar will be followed between 16:00 and 17:00 by an informal time around tea/coffee and biscuits with Samaya on both scientific aspects related to her seminar and other challenges in today’s research like being a young mother and a researcher at the same time. Early-career researchers are particularly encouraged to attend also this second part of the event.
The seminar can be followed online here: https://cern.zoom.us/j/68546127484?pwd=WVlrNk9kMmNXV2w5RkFCcjNwTGdWQT09
