Gravitational waves and emitted light reveal merger of two neutron stars – and a kilonova
Research report (imported) 2017 - Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics
Summary
On 17 August 2017, two merging neutron stars were seen for the first time by their gravitational wave si gnal as well as high-energy gamma radiation. Follow-up observations revealed optical emission powered by the radioactive decay of r-process elements - a so-called kilonova.