Multi-messenger astrophysics

This episode explores the search for Galactic PeVatrons, powerful cosmic accelerators that boost cosmic rays to PeV energies (1 PeV = 10^15 eV). The study, conducted by researchers using the HAWC gamma-ray observatory and the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, focuses on identifying neutrino emission from known gamma-ray sources. The study focused on 22 gamma-ray sources detected by HAWC . The research...

Millisecond pulsars (MSPs) are incredibly stable rotators and can be used as extremely precise clocks. Pulsar Timing Arrays (PTAs) monitor a collection of these pulsars to detect gravitational waves (GWs). GWs affect the arrival times of pulses from these pulsars, causing tiny, correlated fluctuations. There are four main PTAs: The European Pulsar Timing Array (EPTA) combines data from five major...

This paper proposes that  binary neutron star mergers  are the source of  ultrahigh energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) . The authors argue that these mergers produce jets with nearly universal maximum rigidities, explaining the observed narrow range of rigidities in UHECRs. The paper also explains how the rate of these mergers, the power of their jets, and the production of heavy nuclei like tellurium du...

SN 2023ixf provided the earliest ever detection of shock breakout from a supernova. The red supergiant progenitor star had a radius of about 440 solar radii. Early observations revealed that the light curves evolved very rapidly (timescales of 1-2 hours), appearing fainter and redder than models predicted . The study authors attribute this to an optically thick dust shell surrounding the star that...

Description : Tilepy is an open-source platform revolutionizing multi-messenger astrophysics by optimizing the scheduling of follow-up observations for events with large sky localization uncertainties, such as gravitational waves, gamma-ray bursts, and high-energy neutrinos. Main Points ● What is Tilepy? Tilepy is a Python package designed to efficiently schedule observations by correlating galaxy...

Episode Title: Unveiling the Secrets of the BOAT (GRB 221009A) Description: Explore the awe-inspiring power and scientific significance of GRB 221009A, the brightest gamma-ray burst ever recorded. Join us as we unpack the observations from multiple telescopes, including Fermi-LAT, LHAASO, and H.E.S.S., to understand the mechanisms behind this extraordinary event. Key Talking Points: Unprecedented...

Shownotes for a Podcast Episode: Unprecedented Energy in Gamma-Ray Bursts Topic: A New Era of Gamma-Ray Burst Astronomy Introduction: Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are brief, intense flashes of gamma-ray radiation originating from distant galaxies. They are the most powerful explosions known in the universe. These bursts occur in two distinct phases: the prompt emission, a short, bright burst of gamma r...

Astro-COLIBRI is a platform designed for real-time exploration of extreme astronomical events, facilitating multi-messenger astrophysics research. The platform offers a user-friendly interface and state-of-the-art architecture, enabling astronomers worldwide to identify and observe events across various timescales. Astro-COLIBRI has been used in several research projects and has been featured in v...