Compact Binary Mergers as Multimessenger Sources of Gravitational Waves

Explore the fascinating world of compact binary mergers and their role as multimessenger sources of gravitational waves in this 36-minute lecture by Stuart Shapiro from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Delivered at the Kavli Foundation plenary session of the APS April Meeting 2015, delve into the groundbreaking field of gravitational wave detection on the centennial anniversary of Einstein's theory of general relativity. Learn about the most promising sources of gravitational waves, including binary systems involving black holes, neutron stars, and white dwarfs. Discover how these cosmic events can generate observable electromagnetic and neutrino counterparts, advancing multimessenger astronomy. Examine recent magnetohydrodynamic simulations in general relativity (GRMHD) that demonstrate how black hole-neutron star mergers could power short-hard gamma-ray bursts. Investigate the effects of inspiraling supermassive binary black holes on surrounding plasma in galaxy cores, and their potential for generating precursor and aftermath electromagnetic radiation. Gain insights into various gravitational wave detection methods, including pulsar timing arrays and laser interferometers, and understand their applications in measuring different cosmic phenomena.