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“Exploring the Transient Universe with Gravitational Waves” Dr. Patrick Brady Univeristy of Wisconsin, Milwaukee |
| The Universe is full of astrophysical objects that emit bursts of electromagnetic radiation and elementary particles. By applying a variety of tools to the study of such transient phenomena, we learn more about the sources that power them. Gravitational waves provide a unique way to study the transient Universe. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) has recently completed taking a year of data at design sensitivity. Among the most likely sources of gravitational radiation detectable by LIGO are the coalescences of stellar-mass, compact-object binaries (i.e. binary systems containing black holes and/or neutron stars). After a brief introduction to gravitational waves from compact binaries, I will discuss the status of searches for those waves and implications of LIGO observations for the gamma-ray burst GRB 070201. Looking to the future, I will outline the information that might be provided by direct observation of gravitational waves from compact binaries and the prospects for combined electromagnetic and gravitational-wave observing campaigns. |