Talks

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The Future of Gravitational-Wave Astronomy
Wednesday, 06 April 2016
Time Speaker Title Resources
09:30 to 09:40 Rajesh Gopakumar Welcome remarks
 
09:40 to 10:35 Stan Whitcomb Advanced LIGO in the dawn of gravitational-wave astronomy

Abstract:

The 14 September 2015 observation of gravitational waves from a coalescing binary black hole marked the dawn of gravitational wave astrophysics. This transformational discovery as made possible by Advanced LIGO, a new generation of laser-interferometer gravitational wave detectors with much greater sensitivity than previous detectors. LIGO has joined with Virgo to form a growing global network of detectors which will work together to extract the maximum science from their data. The Government of India has recently approved a collaborative project to bring an Advanced LIGO detector to India as an important next step in expanding this network.
 
10:35 to 11:00 -- Coffee Break
11:00 to 11:55 Sergei Klimenko LIGO observation of a binary black hole merger

Abstract:

On September 14, 2015 at 5:51 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the twin Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors, located in Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington, USA both measured ripples in the fabric of spacetime – gravitational waves – arriving at the Earth from a cataclysmic event in the distant universe. A century after the fundamental predictions of Einstein and Schwarzschild, the gravitational waves are captured. This discovery comes at the culmination of decades of instrument research and development, through a world-wide effort of thousands of researchers. I will talk about the LIGO detectors, detection details, nature of the source and the results of this observation.
11:55 to 12:50 John Veitch Deciphering the discovery: Astrophysical implications of GW150914

Abstract:

The detection of GW150914 marks the beginning of gravitational wave astronomy, but what can we learn about the sources of GWs? Here I show how the masses, spins, position and other details of the source can be reconstructed from the waveform. Using this information, what can we say about the progenitor system of GW150914?
 
13:00 to 14:00 -- Lunch
14:00 to 14:35 Walter Del Pozzo Do astrophysical binary black holes behave as expected? Lessons from GW150914

Abstract:

The discovery of GW150914 allowed to test the predictions of general relativity in the strong-field regime of space-time. In this talk, I will review what GW150914 taught us about space-time dynamics and discuss future prospects to further test our understanding of gravity.
 
14:35 to 15:10 Sanjit Mitra Stochastic gravitational-wave background: Searches and science

Abstract:

A stochastic gravitational wave background (SGWB) can be created by phenomena in the early universe and by a large collection of astrophysical sources. Detection of a stochastic background of either origin would be a giant leap in observational cosmology. It will provide a major boost to our understanding of inflation and structure formation. Many ongoing and upcoming experiments are focussing on SGWB detection in different frequency bands for a variety of sources. Advanced ground-based interferometric detectors may be able to detect an astrophysical SGWB. A background may be significantly anisotropic if dominated by the local universe, for which optimal and efficient search algorithms have been developed. Apart from the expected sources, searches for stochastic background also serve another primary goal of astronomy, to look for the unknowns.
 
15:10 to 15:45 Arunava Mukherjee Constraining the nuclear equation of state using GW observations of neutron star binaries

Abstract:

The true equation of state (EoS) of a neutron star is unknown, even nearly half a century after their discovery. The core of a neutron star consists of dense degenerate matter having a very high chemical potential and very low temperature. Properties of such matter are not only challenging to estimate from terrestrial laboratory experiments but also difficult to derive theoretically from first principles of QCD-interaction. Astronomical observations of neutron stars provide a promising path to unravel this mystery. I will give a brief overview of the constraints on the neutron star EoS coming from astronomical observations achieved till date. GW observations of binary neutron stars by the second generation GW detectors might allow us to measure the tidal deformability of neutron stars through its imprint on the GW signal. This can potentially be used to constrain the neutron star EoS. I will briefly highlight the present status and prospects of such constraints. Moreover, modern numerical simulations predict EoS-dependent signatures in the merger GW signal. This can also potentially help containing the EoS of the neutron stars.
 
15:45 to 16:15 -- Coffee Break
16:15 to 16:50 Samaya Nissanke Follow the Roar: Localisation and the Electromagnetic (EM) follow-up of GW150914 and what’s next?[REMOTE TALK]
 
16:50 to 17:25 Varun Bhalerao Indian eyes on gravitational wave sources

Abstract:

Detection and study of electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave events is critical for completing our astrophysical understanding of these sources. I will talk about the various initiatives in India for undertaking electromagnetic followup of such sources. I will discuss our new scheduling algorithm for optimising follow-up studies and discuss directions of future expansion of this effort. I will discuss the mild advantages in follow-up conferred upon certain geographical locations. I will discuss India's ground- and space-based observational capabilities for EM followup, and conclude with an introduction to a new robotic telescope being procured for this effort.
 
17:25 to 18:00 Biswajit Paul Astrosat-LAXPC: some early results and prospects for GW

Abstract:

The Large Area X-ray Proportional Counters (LAXPC) of Astrosat is a major instrument for broad band timing and spectroscopy. It has the largest effective area among all instruments of this kind ever flown and provides unprecedented opportunity for high resolution timing and some spectroscopic studies over a broad energy band. Some early results obtained from LAXPC during the performance verification phase will be presented followed by some key science prospects with this instrument on Astrosat. X-ray observations that relate to Gravitational Wave detection will also be discussed.
 
Thursday, 07 April 2016
Time Speaker Title Resources
09:30 to 10:20 B. S. Sathyaprakash Einstein, Quo Vadis?

Abstract:

Detection of gravitational waves by LIGO has given the additional impetus to vigorously pursue ideas for the next generation of gravitational wave detectors. In my talk I will explore what we can hope to learn about fundamental physics, astrophysics and cosmology with a heterogenous network of second and third generation detectors. My goal is to trigger a discussion to identify the most compelling two or three science targets for third generation detectors
 
10:20 to 12:30 -- Coffee Break
10:50 to 11:40 Rana Adhikari Future Detectors and their Potential

Abstract:

Now that first observations of gravitational waves is behind us, we may wonder about the ultimate limits of laser interferometry. What is the quantum Rao-Cramer bound for spacetime and EM fields? Are there fundamental thermodynamic limits to the stability of matter? Some quantitative limits will be presented for ground and space based detectors.
 
11:40 to 12:30 Jan Harms Influence of Newtonian noise on future detector designs

Abstract:

The so-called Newtonian noise produced by terrestrial gravity fluctuations is predicted to limit the low-frequency sensitivity of advanced and future-generation, ground-based GW detectors. Mitigation techniques have been proposed, but also site selection will play an important role for future detectors, not only to choose a site with low ambient Newtonian noise, but also with respect to noise mitigation. In this presentation, I will summarize our current understanding of Newtonian noise, the challenges of Newtonian-noise mitigation, and what the important considerations are for site selection concerning Newtonian noise.
 
12:30 to 13:30 -- Lunch
13:30 to 14:05 Guillaume Faye Modelling inpiraling binaries of compact objects by means of the post-Newtonian approximation: status and challenges

Abstract:

The post-Newtonian approximation is a versatile perturbative scheme suitable to describe isolated systems in the small velocity, weak field regime of general relativity. It is being used extensively to model the dynamics of inspiraling binaries of compact objects, which are known to be excellent sources for gravitational-wave detection. In this talk, I shall present a selection of results about those systems that have been obtained over the last few years within the post-Newtonian approach. As one may have a priori expected, the most relevant observable quantities have been computed with higher and higher accuracy; but, in addition, quite interestingly, more finite-size effects have been incorporated to the equations of evolution and the gravitational waveform.
 
14:05 to 14:40 Harald Pfeiffer Numerical simulations of binary black holes

Abstract:

The last few years have seen astonishing progress in the numerical simulation of the inspiral and merger of two black holes. The results of these simulations are of high importance to gravitational wave detectors searching for binary black holes, and to elucidate masses and spins of the merging black holes. Numerical simulations also help to understand Einstein's equations in the genuinely nonlinear and dynamic situations. This talk gives an overview of recent advances in black hole simulations and attempts to convey a flavor of the variety of problems being attacked by such simulations. Time permitting, I will also cover some recent advances in the simulations of binary neutron stars and black hole—neutron star binaries.
 
14:40 to 15:15 Frank Ohme Complete waveform models in the era of gravitational-wave detections [REMOTE TALK]

Abstract:

Models of the gravitational-wave signals emitted by merging black holes have continuously been improved over the past decades. State-of-the-art models now combine analytical and numerical approaches to describe all stages of the binary coalescence, and they capture a variety of physical effects. The recent LIGO observation of a binary black hole merger showed that this level of model sophistication is needed in the analysis of experimental data. In this talk, I will review the status of complete waveform models and illustrate that their systematic uncertainties had minimal impact on the information extracted from GW150914. Not all conceivable signals could be deciphered so unambiguously with our current set of waveform models, and I will discuss limitations and future requirements for gravitational waveform modelling of compact binaries in the era of regular gravitational-wave detections.
 
15:30 to 17:00 Bala R Iyer, B. S. Sathyaprakash, Stan Whitcomb, P. Ajith Panel discussion: 100 years of gravitational waves
17:00 to 17:30 -- Coffee/Social
17:30 to 18:30 Stan Whitcomb Public Lecture
 
Monday, 19 August 2019
Time Speaker Title Resources
09:40 to 10:15 Guillaume Faye (IAP, France) Gravitational-Wave Source Modeling Using Analytical Methods
   
10:15 to 11:00 Piotr Jaranowski (University of Bialystok, Poland) Subjective To-Do List for the Post-Newtonian (PN) Two-Body Problem
   
11:00 to 11:30 Ryuchi Fujita (YITP, Japan) Gravitational-Wave Source Modeling Using Analytical Methods
 
11:30 to 12:00 Lawrence Kidder (Cornell University, USA) Gravitational-Wave Source Modeling Using Numerical Relativity
   
12:00 to 12:30 Prayush Kumar (Cornell University, USA) BBH Source Modeling Using Numerical Relativity: Status & Challenges
   
12:30 to 13:00 Nathan Johnson McDaniel (University of Cambridge, UK) BNS/NSBH Simulations: Challenges and Future Directions
   
14:40 to 15:00 Riccardo Sturani (International Institute of Physics, Brazil) New Approaches to Gravitational-Wave Source Modeling
   
15:00 to 15:30 Ashoke Sen (HRI, India) Gravitational-Wave from Soft Theorem
   
15:30 to 16:00 Shiraz Minwalla (TIFR, India) Black Hole Dynamics at Large D
   
16:00 to 16:30 Siddharth G Prabhu (ICTS, India) Classical double copy for the Gravitational Binary
   
16:30 to 18:00 Alessandra Buonanno (Albert Einstein Institute, Germany) The Making of High-Precision Gravitational-Waves

Solving the two-body problem in General Relativity has been crucial in observing gravitational waves from binary systems composed of black holes and neutron stars, and inferring their astrophysical and cosmological properties.  I will review the theoretical groundwork that has enabled these major scientific discoveries.
 
Tuesday, 20 August 2019
Time Speaker Title Resources
09:30 to 10:00 Chris Van den Broeck (Nikhef, The Netherlands) Fundamental Physics with Gravitational-Waves
   
10:00 to 10:30 Badri Krishnan (Albert Einstein Institute, Germany) Understanding Properties of Black Holes and Neutron Stars
   
10:30 to 11:00 Sumanta Chakraborty (IACS, India) Signatures of Theories Beyond General Relativity through GW
   
11:30 to 12:00 Wolfgang Kastaun (Albert Einstein Institute, Germany) Nuclear Matter EOS Constraints from Gravitational-Waves
   
12:00 to 12:30 Debades Bandyopadhyay (Saha Institute, India) Neutron Star Equation of State: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
   
12:30 to 13:00 Sudip Bhattacharyya (TIFR, India) Probing Neutron Star Core Matter using EM Observations
   
14:00 to 14:30 Archisman Ghosh (Nikhef, The Netherlands) Overview of Gravitational-Wave Cosmology
   
14:30 to 14:45 Surhud More (IUCAA, India) Cosmology from EM Observations
   
14:45 to 15:00 Tirthankar Roy Choudhury (NCRA, India) Gravitational-Waves and the "Final Frontier" of Cosmology
   
15:00 to 15:15 L. Sriramkumar (IITM, India) Generation and Amplification of Primordial Gravitational-Waves
   
15:15 to 15:30 Panel Discussion Cosmology using Gravitational Waves
 
16:00 to 16:20 Jo van den Brand (NIkhef, The Netherlands) 3G Opportunities in Europe
   
16:20 to 16:40 Rana Adhikari (LIGO/Caltech, USA) Earth + Space: A Coherent Extra-Terrestrial Network for GW Astronomy
16:40 to 17:00 David McClelland (Australian National University (ANU), Australia) 3G Global R&D
   
17:00 to 17:20 Suresh Doravari (IUCAA, India) Potential Role for India in the Global R&D
   
17:20 to 17:40 Yanbei Chen (California Institute of Technology, USA) Quantum Metrology and Gravitational-Wave Detectors
   
Wednesday, 21 August 2019
Time Speaker Title Resources
09:30 to 09:40 Sanjeev Dhurandhar (IUCAA, India) Types of Gravitational-Wave Sources and Search Methods
   
09:40 to 10:00 Anand Sengupta (IITG, India) CBC Data Analysis
   
10:00 to 10:20 Archana Pai (IITB, India) GW Burst Searches in Ground Based Detectors
   
10:20 to 11:00 Sanjit Mitra (IUCAA, India) Stochastic Gravitational-Waves Windows to the Unknowns
   
11:30 to 12:00 Kenta Hotokezaka (Princeton, USA) Overview: Multi-Messenger Astronomy of compact Binary Mergers
   
12:00 to 12:30 Varun Bhalerao (IITB, India) Multi-Messenger Astrophysics
   
12:30 to 12:50 Poonam Chandra (NCRA, India) Multi-Messenger Astronomy-Low Energy EM Observations of GW Events
   
12:50 to 13:00 Panel Discussion Multi-Messenger Astronomy
 
14:00 to 14:20 B.S. Sathyaprakash (Penn State University, UK) Astrophysical Implications of Gravitational-Wave Detections
   
14:20 to 14:45 Tejaswi Venumadhav (IAS Princeton, USA) Astrophysics with GW Sources
   
14:45 to 15:00 Sourav Chatterjee (TIFR, India) Dynamical Formation of Merging Binary Black Holes
   
15:00 to 15:30 Panel Discussion Gravitational-Wave Astrophysics
 
16:00 to 17:30 Abhay Ashtekar (Penn State University, USA) Big Bang, Black Holes & Gravitational-Waves

Big Bang, Black Holes and Gravitational Waves now appear as compelling – even Obvious –consequences of general relativity. Therefore, it may seem surprising that none of these ideas were readily accepted. Not only was there considerable debate, but in fact leading figures were often arguing on what turned out to be the “wrong side” of history. These developments provide excellent lessons for younger researchers on how science un-folds. Paradigm shifts in science occur when younger researchers have the courage not to accept ideas merely because they are mainstream; patience to systematically develop novel avenues they deeply believe in; and maturity to accept that a variety of factors –  not all logical or even science related –  can drive or slow down scientific progress.
   
Thursday, 22 August 2019
Time Speaker Title Resources
09:30 to 09:50 Tarun Souradeep (IUCAA, India) LIGO-India: An Indian Mega-Science (ad)Venture
   
09:50 to 10:10 Fred Raab (LIGO/Caltech, USA) LIGO-Perspective: Elements of LIGO’s Success
   
10:10 to 10:20 Ajit Kembhavi (IUCAA, India) Physics, Astrophysics and Gravitational-Wave Physics
   
10:20 to 10:30 P. Sreekumar (ISRO, India) LIGO-India as a Project (as I see it..)
   
10:30 to 11:00 Panel Discussion LIGO-India
 
11:30 to 12:00 Abhay Ashtekar (Penn State University, USA) Final Discussion Session: Theory
   
12:00 to 13:00 Stan Whitcomb​​​ (LIGO/Caltech, USA) Summary Discussion: Experimental Edition