Pulsar revival in neutron star mergers: multi-messenger prospects for the discovery of pre-merger coherent radio emission

Understand

We investigate pre-merger coherent radio emission from neutron star mergers arising due to the magnetospheric interaction between compact objects.

• We consider two plausible radiation mechanisms, and show that if one neutron star has a surface magnetic field $B_{\rm s} \ge 10^{12}$G, coherent millisecond radio bursts with characteristic temporal morphology and inclination angle dependence are observable to Gpc distances with next-generation radio facilities.
• We explore multi-messenger and multi-wavelength methods of identification of a NS merger origin of radio bursts, such as in fast radio burst surveys, triggered observations of gamma-ray bursts and gravitational wave events, and optical/radio follow-up of fast radio bursts in search of kilonova and radio afterglow emission.
• We present our findings for current and future observing facilities, and make recommendations for verifying or constraining the model.