Infrared transient astronomy and gravitational wave follow-up with the Liverpool Telescope

The modern era of wide field optical surveys is revealing new and
exotic transient phenomena in unprecedented numbers. The infrared sky
is relatively unexplored by comparison. However that is set to change
due to advances in infrared detector technology and new survey
facilities, such as Gattini IR at Palomar Observatory. The goal of
this project is to lead the Liverpool Telescope exploitation of the
infrared transient sky. The student will develop and then commision a
new InGaAs camera on the telescope, with the aim of having it ready
for full robotic operations in early 2022. This camera will then be
used in programmes of transient classification and follow-up. The
primary targets of interest will be the counterparts of binary neutron
star mergers discovered by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration of
gravitational wave detectors. The fourth science run with these
detectors is also due to begin in early 2022. Models of the isotropic
`kilonova' signature of these merger events shows a strong colour
evolution with a peak in the infrared, and this behaviour was
confirmed by the follow-up of the GW170817 event. A sensitive infrared
instrument on a robotic telescope is therefore a powerful tool for the
identification and characterisation of candidate counterparts. The
student will lead the Liverpool Telescope contribution to the
follow-up effort in the O4 run.