Description:

“DOMinATE: Building the Next-Generation Vis-IR Space Telescopes”
Rocco Coppejans

DOMinATE (Deployable Optical MembrAne TElescope) is a project to enable the next generation of Vis-IR space telescopes. The core of the concept is to replace traditional (thick and solid) mirrors with membrane mirrors. This would allow a 60cm diameter mirror to be deployed from a 3U CubeSat (10x10x30cm) and a >16m mirror to be deployed from currently available rocket fairings with diameters of ~4m. In the concept the mirror consist of three primary layers: a reflective layer, a substrate that serves as a structural layer and a magnetic smart material (MSM). The combined thickness of all four layers is less than 0.5 mm. The mirrors are folded during launch. After launch, it is mechanically deployed from its folded position to a RMS figure accuracy close to the required value. Residual figure errors are then corrected by applying a local external magnetic field. This causes the MSM to expand or contract, causing a controlled shape change in a small (<1x1cm) area of the reflecting surface. In my talk I will explain the concept, give an overview of our current work effort and discus future work.


GW170817: The Joint Detection of Gravitational Waves and Electromagnetic Signals from a Binary Neutron Star Merger
Eve Chase

On August 17, the LIGO and Virgo gravitational-wave detectors made the first observation of the merger of two neutron stars. Nearly simultaneously, the Fermi Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor detected GRB 170817A, the first identified electromagnetic counterpart to a gravitational-wave event. Weeks of observational follow-up revealed additional counterpart signals across the electromagnetic spectrum. I will summarize the detection of GW170817 and present many of the scientific advancements emanating from this discovery, including measurements of the Hubble parameter, predictions for the binary’s progenitor, tests of general relativity, and constraints on the neutron star equation of state. Two years after the initial detection of gravitational waves, we have entered the era of multi-messenger astronomy.