Using negative-latency gravitational wave alerts to detect prompt radio bursts from binary neutron star mergers with the Murchison Widefield Array
We examine how fast radio burst (FRB)-like signals predicted to be generated during the merger of a binary neutron star (BNS) may be detected in low-frequency radio observations triggered by the aLIGO/Virgo gravitational-wave detectors. The rapidity, directional accuracy, and sensitivity of follow-u...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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OXFORD UNIV PRESS
2019
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DE180100346 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/91561 |
| _version_ | 1848765548210421760 |
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| author | James, Clancy Anderson, Gemma Wen, L. Bosveld, J. Chu, Q. Kovalam, M. Slaven-Blair, T.J. Williams, Andrew |
| author_facet | James, Clancy Anderson, Gemma Wen, L. Bosveld, J. Chu, Q. Kovalam, M. Slaven-Blair, T.J. Williams, Andrew |
| author_sort | James, Clancy |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | We examine how fast radio burst (FRB)-like signals predicted to be generated during the merger of a binary neutron star (BNS) may be detected in low-frequency radio observations triggered by the aLIGO/Virgo gravitational-wave detectors. The rapidity, directional accuracy, and sensitivity of follow-up observations with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) are considered. We show that with current methodology, the rapidity criterion fails for triggered MWA observations above 136 MHz for BNS mergers within the aLIGO/Virgo horizon, for which little dispersive delay is expected. A calculation of the expected reduction in response time by triggering on 'negative latency' alerts from aLIGO/Virgo observations of gravitational waves generated by the BNS inspiral is presented. This allows for observations up to 300 MHz where the radio signal is expected to be stronger. To compensate for the poor positional accuracy expected from these alerts, we propose a new MWA observational mode that is capable of viewing one-quarter of the sky. We show the sensitivity of this mode is sufficient to detect an FRB-like burst from an event similar to GW 170817 if it occurred during the ongoing aLIGO/Virgo third science run (O3). |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:37:00Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-91561 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:37:00Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publisher | OXFORD UNIV PRESS |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-915612023-05-11T03:23:46Z Using negative-latency gravitational wave alerts to detect prompt radio bursts from binary neutron star mergers with the Murchison Widefield Array James, Clancy Anderson, Gemma Wen, L. Bosveld, J. Chu, Q. Kovalam, M. Slaven-Blair, T.J. Williams, Andrew Science & Technology Physical Sciences Astronomy & Astrophysics gravitational waves methods: observational stars: neutron radio continuum: transients COUNTERPARTS POPULATION astro-ph.HE astro-ph.HE We examine how fast radio burst (FRB)-like signals predicted to be generated during the merger of a binary neutron star (BNS) may be detected in low-frequency radio observations triggered by the aLIGO/Virgo gravitational-wave detectors. The rapidity, directional accuracy, and sensitivity of follow-up observations with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) are considered. We show that with current methodology, the rapidity criterion fails for triggered MWA observations above 136 MHz for BNS mergers within the aLIGO/Virgo horizon, for which little dispersive delay is expected. A calculation of the expected reduction in response time by triggering on 'negative latency' alerts from aLIGO/Virgo observations of gravitational waves generated by the BNS inspiral is presented. This allows for observations up to 300 MHz where the radio signal is expected to be stronger. To compensate for the poor positional accuracy expected from these alerts, we propose a new MWA observational mode that is capable of viewing one-quarter of the sky. We show the sensitivity of this mode is sufficient to detect an FRB-like burst from an event similar to GW 170817 if it occurred during the ongoing aLIGO/Virgo third science run (O3). 2019 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/91561 10.1093/mnrasl/slz129 English http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DE180100346 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/CE170100004 OXFORD UNIV PRESS fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Science & Technology Physical Sciences Astronomy & Astrophysics gravitational waves methods: observational stars: neutron radio continuum: transients COUNTERPARTS POPULATION astro-ph.HE astro-ph.HE James, Clancy Anderson, Gemma Wen, L. Bosveld, J. Chu, Q. Kovalam, M. Slaven-Blair, T.J. Williams, Andrew Using negative-latency gravitational wave alerts to detect prompt radio bursts from binary neutron star mergers with the Murchison Widefield Array |
| title | Using negative-latency gravitational wave alerts to detect prompt radio bursts from binary neutron star mergers with the Murchison Widefield Array |
| title_full | Using negative-latency gravitational wave alerts to detect prompt radio bursts from binary neutron star mergers with the Murchison Widefield Array |
| title_fullStr | Using negative-latency gravitational wave alerts to detect prompt radio bursts from binary neutron star mergers with the Murchison Widefield Array |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using negative-latency gravitational wave alerts to detect prompt radio bursts from binary neutron star mergers with the Murchison Widefield Array |
| title_short | Using negative-latency gravitational wave alerts to detect prompt radio bursts from binary neutron star mergers with the Murchison Widefield Array |
| title_sort | using negative-latency gravitational wave alerts to detect prompt radio bursts from binary neutron star mergers with the murchison widefield array |
| topic | Science & Technology Physical Sciences Astronomy & Astrophysics gravitational waves methods: observational stars: neutron radio continuum: transients COUNTERPARTS POPULATION astro-ph.HE astro-ph.HE |
| url | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DE180100346 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DE180100346 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/91561 |