CMI Silver Jubilee Lecture

Sukanta Bose, IUCAA, Pune

What Physics and Astrophysics of Compact Objects will Gravitational Wave Observations Teach Us?

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Abstract:

The two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) are set to begin their first observation run later this year following hardware upgrades during the past few years. A few other detectors in the world, possibly including one in India, called LIGO-India, are expected to join them in the coming years to usher in the era of gravitational wave (GW) astronomy. Such a multi-baseline network will be able to localize GW transients, e.g., the merger of neutron star binaries, that it detects to within a few to tens of square-degrees. In this talk I will discuss both opportunities and challenges that arise from such a prospect. One opportunity is the possibility of developing a more complete understanding of these sources. To wit, are short duration gamma-ray bursts and kilonovae indeed associated with the merger of binaries involving neutron stars? Or, how well can we constrain the equation of state of a neutron star? Apart from discussing these aspects of what is clearly a multi-messenger endeavour, I will also mention how Indian telescopes can contribute to this effort.