Speaker
Stephen Smartt
(University of Oxford)
Description
A remarkable sequence of spectra were taken every 24hrs for 10 nights of the kilonova AT2017gfo. These covered 0.3-2.2microns at good signal to noise and spectral resolution (with the VLT X-shooter instrument). However AT2017gfo was at the relatively close distance of 40Mpc, and the volumetric rates of BNS mergers now imply this was a once in a decade (roughly) event. Application of radiative transfer models rely on high quality spectral data for comparison. I will review the current and future instruments and facilities for gathering spectroscopic data of kilonovae, and the prospects for data sets of similar quality to AT2017gfo. I will highlight ESO's current and future instruments and space based facilities.
Primary author
Stephen Smartt
(University of Oxford)
