Probing the Early Universe with Transient Objects

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K05018
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Astronomy
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Totani Tomonori 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 教授 (90321588)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 高速電波バースト / ガンマ線バースト / 連星中性子星

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We theoretically examined the possibility that fast radio bursts (FRBs) are produced by binary neutron star mergers. Using a numerical merger simulation, we found that ejecta is expelled a few ms after the merger, and there is a time window for a FRB radio signal to escape to an observer. On the other hand, following the discovery of a repeating FRB 121102, we proposed a scenario that a long-lived surviving neutron star after the merger becomes such a repeater FRB. As observational studies, we performed follow-up observations using Subaru Telescope for some FRBs. We found a host galaxy candidate for FRB 150418, and set the deepest optical upper limit of possible optical afterglow to FRB 151230.

Free Research Field

天文学