Neutrinos in binary neutron star mergers: a step towards multi-messenger astronomy
by
Albino Perego(TU-Darmstadt)
→
Europe/Stockholm
FC61
FC61
Description
Binary neutron star mergers are unique events, in which all fundamental interactions are involved in a dynamical and extreme regime. In addition to being primary sources of gravitational waves for ground-based detectors, they are expected to produce electromagnetic transients with peculiar signatures. The potential association of gravitational waves and electromagnetic signals qualifies them as an excellent scenario for multi-messenger astronomy. Additionally, the high densities and temperatures reached during the merger trigger the production of a copious amount of neutrinos of all flavors.
In this talk, I will review the major properties associated with the neutrino emission and I will show how its modeling is crucial to predict many observables associated with the merger. For example, I will present how neutrino absorption can affect the properties of matter ejected during the merger, and ultimately the characteristics of the expected nucleosynthesis and electromagnetic signal. Moreover, I will discuss how neutrino pair annihilation can contribute to the formation of a relativistic jet and, in turn, relate it with the production of a short gamma-ray burst.