文章基本信息

标题：Radioactively Powered Electromagnetic Counterparts of Neutron Star Mergers
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作者：B. D. Metzger ; G. Martínez-Pinedo, A. Arcones ; S. Darbha, E. Quataert, D. Kasen 等
期刊名称：PoS - Proceedings of Science
印刷版ISSN：1824-8039
出版年度：2010
卷号：2010
出版社：SISSA, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati
摘要：The most promising astrophysical sources of gravitational waves (GWs) for ground-based interferometers such as LIGO and Virgo are the inspiral and merger of binary neutron star (NS) and black hole systems. However, maximizing the scientific benefits of a GW detection will require identifying a coincident electromagnetic counterpart. One of the most likely sources of isotropic emission from NS mergers is a supernova-like transient powered by the radioactive decay of rprocess elements synthesized in the merger ejecta. We present the first calculations of the optical transients from NS mergers that self consistently determine the radioactive heating using a nuclear reaction network and which determine the resulting light curve with aMonte Carlo radiation transfer calculation. Due to the rapid evolution and low luminosity of NS merger transients, optical counterpart searches triggered by a GW detection will require close collaboration between the GW and astronomical communities. NS merger transients may also be detectable following a short duration Gamma-Ray Burst or blindly with present or upcoming optical transient surveys.