Astro2010 Decadal Survey Whitepaper: Coordinated Science in the Gravitational and Electromagnetic Skies

TL;DR

The paper discusses the upcoming era of gravitational wave detection, emphasizing the importance of coordinated electromagnetic observations to enhance understanding of astrophysical phenomena and cosmology.

Contribution

It outlines future directions for theory and observation to maximize scientific returns from combined gravitational wave and electromagnetic measurements.

Findings

Anticipation of first direct GW detections within the decade.

Potential for electromagnetic counterparts to GW events to provide complementary insights.

The concept of trans-spectral astrophysics bridging gravitational and electromagnetic observations.

Abstract

It is widely expected that the coming decade will witness the first direct detection of gravitational waves (GWs). The ground-based LIGO and Virgo GW observatories are being upgraded to advanced sensitivity, and are expected to observe a significant binary merger rate. The launch of The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) would extend the GW window to low frequencies, opening new vistas on dynamical processes involving massive (M >~ 10^5 M_Sun) black holes. GW events are likely to be accompanied by electromagnetic (EM) counterparts and, since information carried electromagnetically is complementary to that carried gravitationally, a great deal can be learned about an event and its environment if it becomes possible to measure both forms of radiation in concert. Measurements of this kind will mark the dawn of trans-spectral astrophysics, bridging two distinct spectral bands of information. The aim of this whitepaper is to articulate future directions in both theory and observation that are likely to impact broad astrophysical inquiries of general interest. What will EM observations reflect on the nature and diversity of GW sources? Can GW sources be exploited as complementary probes of cosmology? What cross-facility coordination will expand the science returns of gravitational and electromagnetic observations?