Multimessenger Astronomy of Neutron Star Mergers with Numerical Relativity

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Sebastiano Bernuzzi
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy ; Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 563106943

Theoretical models of the multimessenger emission from neutron star mergers are key to interpret upcoming gravitational-wave and electromagnetic observations and turn data into understanding. The aim of this project is to contribute to these theoretical developments using Einstein's general-relativity ab-initio models. We propose to use a newly developed, performance portable numerical-relativity code (AthenaK) to 1) perform a large scale exploration of the neutron star merger parameter space, including both binary neutron stars and black-hole--neutron star systems; 2) assemble a large, public catalog of the expected gravitational-wave and electromagnetic emission from these systems; and 3) develop numerical-relativity-informed waveform models and emulators ready to use for multimessenger astronomy.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: USA
• Cooperation Partner: Professor David Radice, Ph.D.