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Optimizing the search for electromagnetic counterparts (EM) to Gravitational Wave (GW) events with the Liverpool Telescope (LT)

POSTER

Abstract

Our understanding of gravitational wave (GW) events is enhanced by identifying and studying their electromagnetic (EM) counterparts. For nearby GW events with a small localization uncertainty, an effective strategy is to search for new transient sources in previously catalogued galaxies, whose properties are consistent with the GW data. Even with a limited field of view, such as that of the Liverpool Telescope (LT), it is plausible to discover the EM counterparts using an efficient observational strategy. But because many galaxies must be observed and the EM counterparts are faint and fade rapidly, a reliable automatic procedure is crucial to schedule observations. To meet these challenges, we designed an algorithm in Python that uses a catalogue of nearby galaxies and the 3D GW localization map to create a prioritized list of galaxies based on GW error-map probability, observability, and absolute magnitude. We tested our algorithm with past GW events and, within a few minutes, obtained consistent results with previous observations. Thus, this algorithm can swiftly assist in the formulation of effective follow-up plans which should increase the probability of localizing EM counterparts.

Authors

  • Priyadarshini Rajkumar

    Texas Tech University

  • Eric Davis

    University of Texas at Arlington, Sultan Qaboos University, UTA HEP group, Department of Integrated Bio \& Nano Systems, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Nano Tech Center, Texas Tech University, University of Michigan, University of Waerloo, Canada, Texas Tech University, Dept of Mechanical Eng, TTU; Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, TTU, Dept of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, TTU Health Sci Ctr, Dept of Physics and Astronomy, TTU, Dept of Mechanical Engineering, TTU, Dept of Physics and Astronomy, TTU; Sch of Health and Sci, Purdue Univ, Dept of Mathematical and Systems Engineering, Shizuoka Univ, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080., LeTourneau University, None, University of Waterloo, Canada, Texas Tech Univ, Trinity University, the University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada, University of Dallas, Liverpool John Moores University, University Of Houston, Biolog Department, TCU, Home Schooled high school student, Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Eric Davis

    University of Texas at Arlington, Sultan Qaboos University, UTA HEP group, Department of Integrated Bio \& Nano Systems, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Nano Tech Center, Texas Tech University, University of Michigan, University of Waerloo, Canada, Texas Tech University, Dept of Mechanical Eng, TTU; Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, TTU, Dept of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, TTU Health Sci Ctr, Dept of Physics and Astronomy, TTU, Dept of Mechanical Engineering, TTU, Dept of Physics and Astronomy, TTU; Sch of Health and Sci, Purdue Univ, Dept of Mathematical and Systems Engineering, Shizuoka Univ, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080., LeTourneau University, None, University of Waterloo, Canada, Texas Tech Univ, Trinity University, the University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada, University of Dallas, Liverpool John Moores University, University Of Houston, Biolog Department, TCU, Home Schooled high school student, Los Alamos National Laboratory