Searching for Electromagnetic Counterpart of Gravitational Wave Source with KMTNet

  • Kim, Joonho (Center for the Exploration of the Origin of the Universe (CEOU), Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University) ;
  • Im, Myungshin (Center for the Exploration of the Origin of the Universe (CEOU), Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Chung-Uk (Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute) ;
  • Kim, Seung-Lee (Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute)
  • Published : 2019.04.10

Abstract

After first identification of electromagnetic counterpart of gravitational wave source (GW170817), era of multi-messenger astronomy has begun. For specifying coordinate, magnitude, and host galaxy information, optical follow-up observation of GW source becomes important. With following engineering run and O3 run of LIGO and VIRGO starting in March 2019, we present searching strategy for optical counterpart of GW source using KMTNet. 24 hours monitoring system and large field of view (4 square-degree) of KMTNet are advantage to discover a transient like GW event. By performing tiling observation of high probability area in GW localization map, we expect to observe early light-curve of GW optical counterpart. After identification, follow-up observation with various KMTNet bands and other telescopes like Gemini and UKIRT will also be performed. We will study collision mechanism, progenitor, and characteristics of host galaxy using observation data of GW source.

Keywords