A Comprehensive Study of Detectability and Contamination in Deep Rapid Optical Searches for Gravitational Wave Counterparts

Understand

The first direct detection of gravitational waves (GW) by the ground-based interferometers is expected to occur within the next few years.

• These interferometers will detect the mergers of compact object binaries composed of neutron stars and/or black holes to a fiducial distance of ~200 Mpc and a localization region of ~100 sq.
• deg.
• To maximize the science gains from such GW detections it is essential to identify electromagnetic (EM) counterparts.