The Physics of Kilonovae
The science returns of gravitational wave astronomy will be maximized if electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational-wave sources can be identified. Kilonovae are promising counterparts to compact binary mergers, both because their long timescales and approximately isotropic emission make them rel...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2020.00355/full |
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doaj-98a20d4890fc4bebb83dd72c17ae39022020-11-25T03:34:13ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physics2296-424X2020-10-01810.3389/fphy.2020.00355544411The Physics of KilonovaeJennifer BarnesThe science returns of gravitational wave astronomy will be maximized if electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational-wave sources can be identified. Kilonovae are promising counterparts to compact binary mergers, both because their long timescales and approximately isotropic emission make them relatively easy to observe, and because they offer astronomers a unique opportunity to probe astrophysical heavy-element nucleosynthesis and merger-driven mass ejection. In the following, I review progress in theoretical modeling that underpinned advances in our understanding of kilonovae leading up the first detection of a neutron star merger, GW170817. I then review the important lessons from this event and discuss the challenges and opportunities that await us in the future.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2020.00355/fullgravitational wave astronomykilonovaekilonovae: TNS 2017 gfoDLT17ckSSS17ar-process nucleosynthesis |
| collection |
DOAJ |
| language |
English |
| format |
Article |
| sources |
DOAJ |
| author |
Jennifer Barnes |
| spellingShingle |
Jennifer Barnes The Physics of Kilonovae Frontiers in Physics gravitational wave astronomy kilonovae kilonovae: TNS 2017 gfo DLT17ck SSS17a r-process nucleosynthesis |
| author_facet |
Jennifer Barnes |
| author_sort |
Jennifer Barnes |
| title |
The Physics of Kilonovae |
| title_short |
The Physics of Kilonovae |
| title_full |
The Physics of Kilonovae |
| title_fullStr |
The Physics of Kilonovae |
| title_full_unstemmed |
The Physics of Kilonovae |
| title_sort |
physics of kilonovae |
| publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
| series |
Frontiers in Physics |
| issn |
2296-424X |
| publishDate |
2020-10-01 |
| description |
The science returns of gravitational wave astronomy will be maximized if electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational-wave sources can be identified. Kilonovae are promising counterparts to compact binary mergers, both because their long timescales and approximately isotropic emission make them relatively easy to observe, and because they offer astronomers a unique opportunity to probe astrophysical heavy-element nucleosynthesis and merger-driven mass ejection. In the following, I review progress in theoretical modeling that underpinned advances in our understanding of kilonovae leading up the first detection of a neutron star merger, GW170817. I then review the important lessons from this event and discuss the challenges and opportunities that await us in the future. |
| topic |
gravitational wave astronomy kilonovae kilonovae: TNS 2017 gfo DLT17ck SSS17a r-process nucleosynthesis |
| url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2020.00355/full |
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AT jenniferbarnes thephysicsofkilonovae AT jenniferbarnes physicsofkilonovae |
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