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Astronomy Colloquium
The Geometry, Energetics, and Environment of the Binary Neutron Star Merger GW170817: The Radio View
Date: Thursday, September 19th
Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Place: 4421 Sterling Hall, Coffee and cookies 3:30 PM, Talk begins 3:45 PM
Speaker: David Kaplan, UW Milwaukee Physics Department
Abstract: I will discuss the major uncertainties regarding the geometry, energetics, and environment of the first EM/GW binary neutron star merger GW170817. In particular I will look at the origin of the radio emission, how it differs from the early-time optical/infrared emission, and what that tells us about how the explosion proceeded. I will show how constraints from the radio lightcurve, polarization, and Very Long Baseline Interferometry helped provide evidence for a broad, mildly relativistic "cocoon" along with a narrow jet. This broke degeneracies in the gravitational wave data analysis to provide inclination constraints and improved measurements of the Hubble Constant. Finally, I will talk about new events from LIGO's latest observing run.
Host: UW Astronomy Department
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