Gravitational Waves and Time Domain Astronomy

TL;DR

This paper discusses the upcoming era of gravitational wave detection, emphasizing the potential for multi-messenger astronomy through electromagnetic follow-up and future space-based observations of low frequency waves.

Contribution

It provides an overview of the challenges and strategies for electromagnetic follow-up in gravitational wave astronomy, highlighting recent workshop discussions.

Findings

Advances in gravitational wave detection will enable multi-messenger astronomy.

Electromagnetic follow-up strategies are crucial for gravitational wave events.

Future space-based observations will expand understanding of black hole mergers.

Abstract

The gravitational wave window onto the universe will open in roughly five years, when Advanced LIGO and Virgo achieve the first detections of high frequency gravitational waves, most likely coming from compact binary mergers. Electromagnetic follow-up of these triggers, using radio, optical, and high energy telescopes, promises exciting opportunities in multi-messenger time domain astronomy. In the next decade, space-based observations of low frequency gravitational waves from massive black hole mergers, and their electromagnetic counterparts, will open up further vistas for discovery. This two-part workshop at featured brief presentations and stimulating discussions on the challenges and opportunities presented by gravitational wave astronomy. Highlights from the workshop, with the emphasis on strategies for electromagnetic follow-up, are presented in this report.