OBSERVATIONS OF NEUTRON STAR MERGER REMNANTS AS PART OF THE GRANDMA COLLABORATION

Abstract

This article summarizes the key findings and methodologies of the GRANDMA (Global Rapid Advanced Network Devoted to the Multi-messenger Addicts) collaboration in observing the remnants of neutron star mergers. To achieve this, the Côte d’Azur Observatory in France, the Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory in Azerbaijan, and their collaborators have pooled their observational efforts, astrophysical analyses, and expertise within an international consortium known as GRANDMA. The GRANDMA collaboration is a global network of observatories dedicated to the rapid follow-up of gravitational wave events and other transient astronomical phenomena. The primary objective of the GRANDMA collaboration is to detect and characterize the electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational wave events, particularly those originating from neutron star mergers. Neutron star mergers are cataclysmic events that provide critical insights into a variety of astrophysical phenomena, including gravitational waves, heavy element nucleosynthesis, and the behavior of matter at nuclear densities. By employing a diverse array of telescopes across the globe, GRANDMA aims to provide rapid, coordinated observations that cover multiple wavelengths, from optical to radio. These observations are crucial for identifying kilonovae, the transient optical and infrared emissions powered by the radioactive decay of heavy elements synthesized during the merger.