Speaker: Riccardo Ciolfi

Università di Padova

Multimessenger Observation of a Binary Neutron Star Merger

Abstract

The first gravitational wave (GW) detection of a binary neutron star merger on August 17th 2017 marked the beginning of multimessenger astronomy and astrophysics with GW sources. For the first time, a direct detection of a GW signal was accompanied by the observation of electromagnetic transients from the same source, including a short gamma-ray burst and a kilonova as predicted by theoretical models. In this talk, I will discuss key implications of this event, together with open questions and perspectives.