Series: Astronomy Colloquium
Date: Wednesday 19-Oct-2022
Time: 16:05-17:00 (4:05-5:00 pm)
Location: 2400 ATL
Speaker: Dr. Shriharsh Tendulkar (Tata Institute)
Title: Multi-messenger and multi-wavelength observations of Fast Radio Bursts
Fulfilling the true promise of fast radio bursts (FRBs) as cosmological probes, understanding their origins, and their association with other transients ecessitates our understanding of the FRB emission mechanism, their formation channel(s), and their local environments. Most emission mechanisms expect that the prompt radio emission represents a small fraction of the total energy released — a larger fraction of the energy should be released at higher frequency wavebands: optical, UV, X-ray and in some cases, gravitational waves (GW) and neutrinos, either as prompt emission or as a longer-lived afterglow. Given that the observed rates of FRBs are two to three orders of magnitude higher than the sky rates of any other extragalactic transient, it is clear that most FRBs will not have detectable multi-wavelength counterparts. The X-ray bursts aligned with the FRB-like radio emission from SGR 1935+2154 highlight the need to be alert to the brightest and nearest FRBs since those will be the most likely to have detectable multi-wavelength counterparts. In this talk I will discuss results from CHIME/FRB in trying to constrain counterparts of FRBs, FRB-GRB connections, and FRB-GW connections. For these science cases, I will also discuss two upcoming projects: The proposed All Sky Transient Radio Array (ASTRA), an ultra-wide field of view telescope to detect the brightest and nearest radio transients and Daksha, a proposed all-sky X-ray mission with 2-satellites in antipodal orbits to increase the detection rate of GRBs and electromagnetic counterparts of GW events.
In-person colloquia are usually preceded by espresso and ice cream at 1:45 pm outside room PSC 1150 and are followed by an informal reception at 5:15 pm in that room. Anyone interested in talking with the speaker, or being added to the colloquium announcement email list, should contact the colloquium organizer Dr. Leslie Sage. Lunch will normally be reserved for the speaker to talk to graduate students. Anyone asking a question during a talk is asked to raise their hand and be acknowledged before speaking. Contact Dr. Leslie Sage for details.
Colloquium Organizer:
Dr. Leslie Sage
Special accommodations for individuals with disabilities can be made by calling (301) 405-3001. It would be appreciated if we are notified at least one week in advance.
