Lessons from the first neutron star merger

Link to recording of the talk

ABSTRACT:

The first gravitational wave detection of a neutron star merger, GW170817, opened the era of multi-messenger gravitational wave-electromagnetic (GW-EM) astrophysics. It is a special event in many levels and its follow-up campaign is probably the largest coordinated observational effort in astrophysics dedicated to a single event. It offers an unprecedented data set, and although it is only a single event, it provides remarkable insights about fundamental physics and astrophysics and revolutionizes our knowledge on neutron star mergers. In my talk, I will give an overview of the main lessons from this event.

Udi (Ehud) Nakar is a Professor of Astrophysics in Tel Aviv University since 2009. His main field of interest is high-energy astrophysics and in particular the physical processes that are active in sources of high energy radiation, cosmic-rays, neutrinos and gravitational waves. His studies combine high-performance computing numerical simulations and analytic work. He received, among other, the IPS prize for young scientists and the ERC starting grant. Ehud is a member of the Israel Young Academy.