EAS and Physics Seminar
When: Thursday,
November 2, 2017
11:00 AM
-
1:00 PM
Where: Textiles Building 105
Description: EAS and Physics Joint Seminar
Title: X-ray observations of GW170817: Behind the scenes at the beginning of multi-messenger astronomy
Speaker: Edward McClain
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
(UMASS Dartmouth Alum)
Date: Thursday, November 2, 2017
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Textile Building, Room 105 - CSCVR
Abstract:
On September 14, 2015, the first detection of a gravitational waves from a binary black hole system kick-started the era of gravitational wave astronomy, and changed the face of physics and astronomy forever. Just over two years since the monumental first detection, we stand at the gateway to another new, and even more promising, era of astronomy. With the detection of both electromagnetic and gravitational waves from a binary neutron star system, GW170817 has started the age of multi-messenger astronomy off with a bang. In this talk I will give an introduction to the binary neutron star system of GW170817 and an overview of the wide range of information we gathered from this one detection. I will also discuss the basics of Chandra X-ray telescope, as well as the ins and outs of working on the science mission planning team. Following that, I will discuss the excitement, effort, and frustration that went on behind the scenes of our contribution to the multi-spectrum detection of GW170817. Finally, I will give a quick overview of why GW170817 was labeled "the worst kept secret in astronomy" and give a unique insider view of the controversy that has surrounded it to this day.
Biography:
Edward McClain currently works at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics as a member of the science operations team for NASA's Chandra X-ray telescope. He is also enrolled part-time in the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth EAS/CSE PhD program under Gaurav Khanna and Scott Field. His research is focused on using Discontinuous Galerkin Methods to solve the Bardeen-Press equation for non-rotating black holes. He received his B.S Physics and B.S. Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth in 2014 and his M.S. Physics from Louisiana State University in 2016.
NOTE: All PHY Graduate Students are ENCOURAGED to attend.
All interested parties are invited to attend. Open to the public.
Refreshments will be served
*For further information, please contact Dr. Gaurav Khanna, 508.910.6605 or by email, gkhanna@umassd.edu
Title: X-ray observations of GW170817: Behind the scenes at the beginning of multi-messenger astronomy
Speaker: Edward McClain
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
(UMASS Dartmouth Alum)
Date: Thursday, November 2, 2017
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Textile Building, Room 105 - CSCVR
Abstract:
On September 14, 2015, the first detection of a gravitational waves from a binary black hole system kick-started the era of gravitational wave astronomy, and changed the face of physics and astronomy forever. Just over two years since the monumental first detection, we stand at the gateway to another new, and even more promising, era of astronomy. With the detection of both electromagnetic and gravitational waves from a binary neutron star system, GW170817 has started the age of multi-messenger astronomy off with a bang. In this talk I will give an introduction to the binary neutron star system of GW170817 and an overview of the wide range of information we gathered from this one detection. I will also discuss the basics of Chandra X-ray telescope, as well as the ins and outs of working on the science mission planning team. Following that, I will discuss the excitement, effort, and frustration that went on behind the scenes of our contribution to the multi-spectrum detection of GW170817. Finally, I will give a quick overview of why GW170817 was labeled "the worst kept secret in astronomy" and give a unique insider view of the controversy that has surrounded it to this day.
Biography:
Edward McClain currently works at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics as a member of the science operations team for NASA's Chandra X-ray telescope. He is also enrolled part-time in the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth EAS/CSE PhD program under Gaurav Khanna and Scott Field. His research is focused on using Discontinuous Galerkin Methods to solve the Bardeen-Press equation for non-rotating black holes. He received his B.S Physics and B.S. Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth in 2014 and his M.S. Physics from Louisiana State University in 2016.
NOTE: All PHY Graduate Students are ENCOURAGED to attend.
All interested parties are invited to attend. Open to the public.
Refreshments will be served
*For further information, please contact Dr. Gaurav Khanna, 508.910.6605 or by email, gkhanna@umassd.edu
Contact: > See Description for contact information
Topical Areas: Faculty, General Public, Students, Graduate, Students, Undergraduate, Physics