147 research outputs found
Searching for Gravitational-Wave Counterparts using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite
In 2017, the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave (GW) detectors, in conjunction
with electromagnetic (EM) astronomers, observed the first GW multi-messenger
astrophysical event, the binary neutron star (BNS) merger GW170817. This marked
the beginning of a new era in multi-messenger astrophysics. To discover further
GW multi-messenger events, we explore the synergies between the Transiting
Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and GW observations triggered by the
LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration (LVK) detector network. TESS's extremely wide
field of view of ~2300 deg^2 means that it could overlap with large swaths of
GW localizations, which can often span hundreds of deg^2 or more. In this work,
we use a recently developed transient detection pipeline to search TESS data
collected during the LVK's third observing run, O3, for any EM counterparts. We
find no obvious counterparts brighter than about 17th magnitude in the TESS
bandpass. Additionally, we present end-to-end simulations of BNS mergers,
including their detection in GWs and simulations of light curves, to identify
TESS's kilonova discovery potential for the LVK's next observing run (O4). In
the most optimistic case, TESS will observe up to one GW-found BNS merger
counterpart per year. However, TESS may also find up to five kilonovae which
did not trigger the LVK network, emphasizing that EM-triggered GW searches may
play a key role in future kilonova detections. We also discuss how TESS can
help place limits on EM emission from binary black hole mergers, and rapidly
exclude large sky areas for poorly localized GW events.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables. Submitted to AAS Journal
Multi-messenger astrophysics in the gravitational-wave era
The observation of GW170817, the first binary neutron star merger observed in
both gravitational waves (GW) and electromagnetic (EM) waves, kickstarted the
age of multi-messenger GW astronomy. This new technique presents an
observationally rich way to probe extreme astrophysical processes. With the
onset of the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration's O4 observing run and wide-field
EM instruments well-suited for transient searches, multi-messenger astrophysics
has never been so promising. We review recent searches and results for
multi-messenger counterparts to GW events, and describe existing and upcoming
EM follow-up facilities, with a particular focus on WINTER, a new near-infrared
survey telescope, and TESS, an exoplanet survey space telescope.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, proceedings from TAUP 202
TESS Data Release Notes: Sector 18 DR25
This release note discusses the science data products produced by the Science Processing Operations Center at Ames Research Center from Sector 18 observations made with the TESS spacecraft and cameras as a means to document instrument performance and data characteristics
Quick-Look Pipeline Light Curves for 5.7 Million Stars Observed Over the Second Year of TESS' First Extended Mission
We present High-Level Science Products (HLSPs) containing light curves from
MIT's Quick-Look Pipeline (QLP) from the second year of TESS' first Extended
Mission (Sectors 40 - 55; 2021 July - 2022 September). In total, 12.2 million
per-sector light curves for 5.7 million unique stars were extracted from
10-minute cadence Full-Frame Images (FFIs) and are made available to the
community. As in previous deliveries, QLP HLSPs include both raw and detrended
flux time series for all observed stars brighter than TESS magnitude T = 13.5
mag. Starting in Sector 41, QLP also produces light curves for select fainter M
dwarfs. QLP has provided the community with one of the largest sources of
FFI-extracted light curves to date since the start of the TESS mission.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figur
TESS Data Release Notes: Sector 17, DR24
This release note discusses the science data products produced by the Science Processing Operations Center at Ames Research Center from Sector 17 observations made with the TESS spacecraft and cameras as a means to document instrument performance and data characteristics
Predicting the Age of Astronomical Transients from Real-Time Multivariate Time Series
Astronomical transients, such as supernovae and other rare stellar
explosions, have been instrumental in some of the most significant discoveries
in astronomy. New astronomical sky surveys will soon record unprecedented
numbers of transients as sparsely and irregularly sampled multivariate time
series. To improve our understanding of the physical mechanisms of transients
and their progenitor systems, early-time measurements are necessary.
Prioritizing the follow-up of transients based on their age along with their
class is crucial for new surveys. To meet this demand, we present the first
method of predicting the age of transients in real-time from multi-wavelength
time-series observations. We build a Bayesian probabilistic recurrent neural
network. Our method can accurately predict the age of a transient with robust
uncertainties as soon as it is initially triggered by a survey telescope. This
work will be essential for the advancement of our understanding of the numerous
young transients being detected by ongoing and upcoming astronomical surveys.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. Accepted at the NeurIPS 2023 Machine Learning and
the Physical Sciences worksho
TESS Data Release Notes: Sector 16, DR22
This release note discusses the science data products produced by the Science Processing Operations Center at Ames Research Center from Sector 16 observations made with the TESS spacecraft and cameras as a means to document instrument performance and data characteristics
TESS Data Release Notes: Sector 9 DR11
This release note discusses the science data products produced by the Science Processing Operations Center at Ames Research Center from Sector 9 observations made with the TESS spacecraft and cameras as a means to document instrument performance and data characteristics
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