Abstract
The Advanced LIGO and Virgo experiments are poised to detect gravitational waves (GWs) directly for the first time this decade. The ultimate prize will be joint observation of a compact binary merger in both gravitational and electromagnetic channels. However, GW sky locations that are uncertain by hundreds of square degrees will pose a challenge. I describe a real-time detection pipeline and a rapid Bayesian parameter estimation code that will make it possible to search promptly for optical counterparts in Advanced LIGO. Having analyzed a comprehensive population of simulated GW sources, we describe the sky localization accuracy that the GW detector network will achieve as each detector comes online and progresses toward design sensitivity. Next, in preparation for the optical search with the intermediate Palomar Transient Factory (iPTF), we have developed a unique capability to detect optical afterglows of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected by the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM). Its comparable error regions offer a close parallel to the Advanced LIGO problem, but Fermi's unique access to MeV-GeV photons and its near all-sky coverage may allow us to look at optical afterglows in a relatively unexplored part of the GRB parameter space. We present the discovery and broadband follow-up observations (X-ray, UV, optical, millimeter, and radio) of eight GBM-IPTF afterglows. Two of the bursts (GRB 130702A / iPTF13bxl and GRB 140606B / iPTF14bfu) are at low redshift (z=0.145 and z = 0.384, respectively), are sub-luminous with respect to "standard" cosmological bursts, and have spectroscopically confirmed broad-line type Ic supernovae. These two bursts are possibly consistent with mildly relativistic shocks breaking out from the progenitor envelopes rather than the standard mechanism of internal shocks within an ultra-relativistic jet. On a technical level, the GBM--IPTF effort is a prototype for locating and observing optical counterparts of GW events in Advanced LIGO with the Zwicky Transient Facility.
Item Type: | Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.)) |
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Subject Keywords: | Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory; LIGO; PTF; gravitational waves; compact binary coalescence; CBC; binary neutron star mergers; BNS; gamma-ray bursts; GRB; signal processing; Bayesian inference; parameter estimation; optical transients; optical counterparts; multimessenger |
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Degree Grantor: | California Institute of Technology |
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Division: | Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy |
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Major Option: | Physics |
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Thesis Availability: | Public (worldwide access) |
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Research Advisor(s): | - Weinstein, Alan Jay (advisor)
- Kulkarni, Shrinivas R. (co-advisor)
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Group: | LIGO, Palomar Transient Factory, Astronomy Department |
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Thesis Committee: | - Weinstein, Alan Jay (chair)
- Kulkarni, Shrinivas R.
- Ott, Christian D.
- Reitze, David H.
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Defense Date: | 24 November 2014 |
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Other Numbering System: | Other Numbering System Name | Other Numbering System ID |
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LIGO | P1400223-v10 |
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Funders: | Funding Agency | Grant Number |
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NSF Graduate Research Fellowship | UNSPECIFIED | John and Ursula Kanel Foundation Charitable Scholarship | UNSPECIFIED | NSF | PHY-0107417 | Swift Guest Investigator Program Cycle 9 | NNX14AC24G | Swift Guest Investigator Program Cycle 10 | NNX14AI99G |
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Projects: | LIGO, Virgo, Palomar Transient Factory, Zwicky Transient Facility |
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Record Number: | CaltechTHESIS:12102014-223122387 |
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Persistent URL: | https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:12102014-223122387 |
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DOI: | 10.7907/Z9ZP442V |
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Related URLs: | |
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ORCID: | |
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Default Usage Policy: | No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided. |
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ID Code: | 8739 |
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Collection: | CaltechTHESIS |
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Deposited By: |
Leo Singer
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Deposited On: | 12 Dec 2014 22:33 |
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Last Modified: | 26 Oct 2021 18:25 |
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