Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz of UC Santa Cruz will present this colloquium titled New Frontiers in Transient Astrophysics: Gravitational-Wave Multi-Messenger Sources and r-process Nucleosynthesis.

Abstract: The detection of GW170817 enabled us to track down and watch the cataclysmic event in multiple wavelengths of light, allowing us to scrutinize the source of these cosmic ripples for the first time. This discovery provided the first solid evidence that neutron-star smashups are the source of much of the Universe’s gold, platinum, and other heavy elements. With a single event, we were able to answer fundamental questions in general relativity, cosmology, nuclear physics, and astrophysics. However, other aspects of the story, as revealed by these events, are still shrouded in mystery. For astronomers and physicists across disciplines, this is a fascinating time to be alive.