AST Colloquium: The Dynamic Infrared Sky

The Dynamic Infrared Sky

Dr. Mansi Kasliwal
Assistant Professor of Astronomy
California Institute of Technology

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Our dynamic infrared sky is hitherto largely unexplored. The infrared is key to understanding elusive stellar fates that are opaque, cold or dusty.

Abstract:
Our dynamic infrared sky is hitherto largely unexplored. The infrared is key to understanding elusive stellar fates that are opaque, cold or dusty. When we saw the first electromagnetic counterpart to gravitational waves, it was the infrared that unveiled the otherwise opaque heavy element nucleosynthesis. The infrared data from neutron star mergers is the only method to probe the sites of the heaviest of the heavy elements in the periodic table. Exemplars of other infrared transients include (i) deeply enshrouded supernovae, (ii) stellar mergers with dusty winds, (iii) 8--10 solar mass stars experiencing e-capture induced collapse in their cores, (iv) formation of stellar mass black holes. Dr. Kasliwal will describe multiple projects to chart the time-domain in the infrared. She will begin with the SPitzerInfraRedIntensive Transients Survey (SPIRITS) -a systematic search of ~200 nearby galaxies over the last six years. She will present the first science results from the Palomar GattiniIR surveyor -a new 25 sqdegJ-band camera that robotically charts the dynamic infrared sky. We are now building the next generation WINTER and DREAMS cameras leveraging alternative InGaAsdetector technology. Enroute to our dream machine in the Antarctic, we have started building

Speaker Bio:
Dr. Mansi Kasliwal is an Assistant Professor of Astronomy at Caltech. Her research group discovers and characterizes cosmic fireworks, i.e., brilliant flashes of light that tell us about the lifecycle of stars and where elements are synthesized. Their primary discovery engines are two robotic, wide-field infrared and optical cameras at Palomar Observatory. They collaborate with astronomers worldwide to panchromaticallycharacterize the discoveries across the electromagnetic spectrum. They enthusiastically pursue a multi-messenger quest to identify electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave events

Intended Audience:
All are welcome. Those with interest in the topic.