Speaker
Description
The concurrent gravitational- and electromagnetic wave observations of GW170817 both proved the importance of neutron star mergers in the production of r-process elements and demonstrated the difficulties in accurately estimating the mass from EM emission. Although a growing number of potential “kilonovae” have been observed associated with short (and long) gamma-ray bursts, these events prove even more difficult to analyze with existing radiative transport models. These difficulties arise from a combination of issues including uncertain initial conditions, accurate calculations of energy deposition, and uncertainties in the opacity determinations and implementations. Here we review these uncertainties, covering the effects placed by uncertain initial conditions, energy deposition and transport schemes with a focus on recent potential kilonova events.
