Synergies with WINTER, ZTF, and LIGO for Kilonova Discovery

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Abstract:: During LIGO’s fourth observing run (O4), we expect to discover more gravitational wave (GW) events than ever before, including binary neutron star (BNS) and neutron star black hole (NSBH) mergers that produce electromagnetically bright kilonovae. The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) has thus far performed extensive follow-up in the optical regime during LIGO’s third observing run, O3. During O4, the Wide-Field Transient Explorer (WINTER), designed specifically for gravitational wave follow-up, will join the campaign in the near-infrared Y, J, and short-H bands. We investigate the potential of combining the resources of both WINTER and ZTF to create an observing strategy suited for joint gravitational wave and electromagnetic discoveries. We use the Nuclear and Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (NMMA) Bayesian Python pipeline to simulate WINTER’s observations of kilonovae with different Target of Opportunity (ToO) triggering criteria and observing setups. We draw from a simulated population of LIGO observations and radiative transfer kilonova models. This study begins to assess kilonova parameter recovery with WINTER. In the future, we hope to simulate the combined WINTER/ZTF observing system to determine the most effective follow-up strategy for a given LIGO gravitational wave alert and integrate it into the campaign starting in O4.

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LIGO Document G2201225-v2