Sources for gravitational wave astronomy
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: School of Mathematics
Abstract
With the first generation of highly sensitive gravitational wave detectors operating at design sensitivity, this is an exciting time for general relativity and astrophysics. With upgrades to advanced detectors planned, and the space based detector LISA due for launch, in the next decade, we expect to soon be able to use gravitational wave data to learn more about the Universe. Given its potential for probing otherwise dark or hidden processes, gravitational wave astronomy promises to change our understanding of, in particular, black holes and neutron stars significantly. The information gleaned will be complementary to that from electromagnetic observations. However, we need to improve our current models of the predicted sources. Better models are needed not only to detect the gravitational waves in the first place, but also to probe as much physics as possible. This research proposal builds on the Southampton General Relativity Group's expertise in black hole, neutron star and gravitational wave astrophysics, and is aimed at developing a deeper understanding of how gravitational waves are emitted by black holes and neutron stars, and how the signals can be used to provide information about the involved physics. The proposed programme is of a highly interconnected nature with four different themes requiring similar methodology (e.g. general relativistic perturbation theory or numerical simulations) and physics input (e.g. superfluidity, magnetic fields or gravitational radiation reaction). The overall aim is to develop significantly improved models for gravitational waves from a range of astrophysical scenarios involving compact objects. Neutron stars are unique astrophysical laboratories, the modelling of which requires much poorly known physics. In order to investigate their properties, one must combine supranuclear physics with magnetohydrodynamics, a description of superfluids and superconductors, potentially exotic phases of matter like a deconfined quark-gluon plasma and, of course, general relativity. Since they can radiate gravitational waves in a variety of ways, achieving a better understanding of neutron star dynamics is one of the key aims of this proposal. To do this we will carry out three parallel projects, focused on neutron star oscillations, relevant astrophysical scenarios and fully nonlinear simulations of neutron star dynamics. The proposed work is not only relevant for gravitational wave physics, it will also provide useful insights into problems relevant for electromagnetic observations. We aim to contruct accurate models of magnetic star pulsations that can be tested against recent observations of oscillations associated with magnetar giant flares. Our studies of rotational effects should shed light on the pulsar glitches, while the nonlinear simulations will help improve our models of neutron star mergers and proto-neutron star evolution. Inspiralling binaries are intrinsically the strongest sources of gravitational waves in the Universe. In particular, there are exciting prospects for LISA to detect the radiative inspiral of compact objects into massive black holes in galactic centres. Gravitational waveforms from such events are extremely efficient probes of the strong gravity near the massive black hole, and promise to allow accurate tests of gravitational theory in its most extreme domain. In order to realise this promise we need a good theoretical understanding of relativistic radiation-reaction effects. Recent progress on the problem of the gravitational self-force provides significant momentum for work in this area. In this project we will continue to explore the science of these fascinating sources.
Organisations
Publications
Ho WC
(2011)
Revealing the physics of R modes in low-mass x-ray binaries.
in Physical review letters
Idrisy A
(2015)
R -mode frequencies of slowly rotating relativistic neutron stars with realistic equations of state
in Physical Review D
Jones D
(2011)
Pulsar state switching, timing noise and free precession
Jones D
(2012)
Pulsar state switching, timing noise and free precession State switching, timing noise and precession
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jones DI
(2017)
Implications of the Occurrence of Glitches in Pulsar Free Precession Candidates.
in Physical review letters
Kaplan D
(2011)
NEW OPTICAL/ULTRAVIOLET COUNTERPARTS AND THE SPECTRAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTIONS OF NEARBY, THERMALLY EMITTING, ISOLATED NEUTRON STARS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Keer L
(2015)
Developing a model for neutron star oscillations following starquakes
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lander S
(2012)
Are there any stable magnetic fields in barotropic stars? Magnetic stability of barotropic stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lander S
(2010)
Oscillations of rotating magnetized neutron stars with purely toroidal magnetic fields
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lander S
(2010)
Instabilities in neutron stars with toroidal magnetic fields Instabilities in NSs with toroidal fields
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lander S
(2012)
Are there any stable magnetic fields in barotropic stars?
Lander S
(2011)
Oscillations and instabilities in neutron stars with poloidal magnetic fields Oscillations and instabilities in NSs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lander S
(2012)
Magnetic neutron star equilibria with stratification and type II superconductivity Stratified and superconducting NS equilibria
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Le Tiec A
(2011)
Periastron advance in black-hole binaries.
in Physical review letters
Lopez-Monsalvo C
(2010)
Thermal Dynamics in General Relativity
Lopez-Monsalvo C
(2010)
Thermal dynamics in general relativity
in Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Nagar A
(2012)
Horizon-absorbed energy flux in circularized, nonspinning black-hole binaries, and its effective-one-body representation
in Physical Review D
Oliveira E
(2010)
Absorption of planar waves in a draining bathtub
in Physical Review D
Ott C
(2010)
New open-source approaches to the modeling of stellar collapse and the formation of black holes
in Astrophysics and Space Science
Ott CD
(2011)
Dynamics and gravitational wave signature of collapsar formation.
in Physical review letters
Passamonti A
(2012)
Towards real neutron star seismology: accounting for elasticity and superfluidity Real neutron star seismology
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Passamonti A
(2011)
Hydrodynamics of rapidly rotating superfluid neutron stars with mutual friction Hydrodynamics of superfluid neutron stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Penner A
(2011)
Tidal deformations of neutron stars: The role of stratification and elasticity
in Physical Review D
Pitkin M
(2015)
First results and future prospects for dual-harmonic searches for gravitational waves from spinning neutron stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Punturo M
(2010)
The third generation of gravitational wave observatories and their science reach
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Punturo M
(2010)
The Einstein Telescope: a third-generation gravitational wave observatory
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Rosa J
(2012)
Massive vector fields on the Schwarzschild spacetime: Quasinormal modes and bound states
in Physical Review D
Sidery T
(2010)
The dynamics of pulsar glitches: contrasting phenomenology with numerical evolutions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Vickers J
(2011)
Double null hamiltonian dynamics and the gravitational degrees of freedom
in General Relativity and Gravitation
Vickers J
(2012)
Distributional geometry in general relativity
in Journal of Geometry and Physics
Warburton N
(2012)
Evolution of inspiral orbits around a Schwarzschild black hole
in Physical Review D
Warburton N
(2011)
Self-force on a scalar charge in Kerr spacetime: Eccentric equatorial orbits
in Physical Review D
Warburton N
(2010)
Self-force on a scalar charge in Kerr spacetime: Circular equatorial orbits
in Physical Review D
Yakovlev D
(2011)
Cooling rates of neutron stars and the young neutron star in the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant Young Cas A neutron star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Description | Improved understanding of the extreme physics associated with neutron stars. |
Exploitation Route | Work impacts on plans for future electromagnetic and gravitational-wave observations. |
Sectors | Education |
Description | Postdoctoral fellowship |
Amount | $90,000 (CAD) |
Organisation | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | Canada |
Start | 10/2011 |
End | 09/2013 |