Relatore
Descrizione
The detection of GW170817 and its electromagnetic counterparts—a short gamma-ray burst (sGRB) and a kilonova—pioneered the era of multi-messenger astrophysics. This event confirmed binary neutron star (BNS) mergers as progenitors of sGRBs and primary sites for r-process nucleosynthesis. By combining gravitational and electromagnetic data, it was possible to constrain the speed of gravity, the neutron star equation of state, and the Hubble constant. Furthermore, the observation of a structured jet emerging from the merger remnant explained most of the observational properties of the associated sGRB prompt and afterglow emission. Despite the absence of subsequent joint detections, GW170817 remains a transformative baseline for the field. Current challenges include the elusive search for EM counterparts to black hole-neutron star (BH-NS) mergers and the detection of expected emission components (e.g. early-UV and late-time X-ray/radio). As we transition toward third-generation observatories like the Einstein Telescope, multi-messenger astronomy will evolve from individual event analysis to large-scale population demographics, provided a robust global network of observational infrastructure and a coordinated scientific community are maintained.
| Sessione | Onde Gravitazionali e astronomia multimessaggera |
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