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Multi-messenger and time-domain astronomy in the 2040s

Samaya Nissanke, Nikhil Sarin, Chris Copperwheat, Sarah Antier, David Berge, Pablo Bosch, Archisman Ghosh, Paul Groot, Gregg Hallinan, Tanja Hinderer, Kenta Hotokezaka, Theophanes Karydas, Mansi Kasliwal, Yves Kini, Rubina Kotak, Kumiko Kotera, Marek Kowalski, Luke Krauth, Kruthi Krishna, Thomas Kupfer, Paraskevas Lampropoulos, Andrew Levan, Ioannis Liodis, Lea Marcotulli, Kunal Mooley, Silvia Piranomonte, Nanda Rea, Martin Roth, Simone Scaringi, Steve Schulze, Lami Suleiman, Nial Tanvir, Angela Zegarelli, Sylvia J. Zhu

TL;DR

The paper argues that the 2040s’ multi‑messenger era will unlock profound science across nucleosynthesis, jet physics, cosmic acceleration, stellar evolution, SMBH growth, cosmology, and dense matter physics, but only with a concerted jump in optical/near‑IR spectroscopic follow‑up. It presents a framework of science questions and a technology roadmap centered on a dedicated, large‑aperture time‑domain facility capable of rapid, flexible spectroscopy in the $300$–$2{,}500$ nm range and $R \,\sim\, 2{,}000$–$10{,}000$, distributed across both hemispheres. The approach relies on integrating triggers from next‑generation GW, neutrino, and EM observatories (e.g., $\\mathcal{O}(10^{5})$ BNS mergers yr$^{-1}$; LISA/PTA localisations weeks before merger) with deep spectroscopic characterization to measure redshifts, ejecta composition, and viewing geometry, constrain the dense matter EoS, and perform precision cosmology via bright standard sirens. The practical impact is a transformed ability to map the physics of compact object mergers, test fundamental physics (e.g., Lorentz invariance), and perform precision cosmology, provided a dedicated spectroscopic facility is built as recommended.

Abstract

Multi-messenger astronomy will be transformed in the 2040s by an unprecedented volume of detections from next-generation gravitational wave, high-energy, and ultra-high energy neutrino, cosmic ray, and time domain observatories. This white paper, prepared for the European Southern Observatory (ESO) Expanding Horizons call, outlines the key science questions enabled by this emerging multi-messenger ecosystem, ranging from nucleosynthesis and dense matter physics to cosmology, fundamental physics, and the growth of black holes across cosmic time. We demonstrate that fully exploiting these discoveries requires a step change in optical to near infrared spectroscopic capability, including low latency response, high throughput, and flexible time domain operations across both hemispheres. We argue that without a dedicated large-aperture time domain facility, the scientific return of multi-messenger astronomy in the 2040s will be considerably limited.

Multi-messenger and time-domain astronomy in the 2040s

TL;DR

The paper argues that the 2040s’ multi‑messenger era will unlock profound science across nucleosynthesis, jet physics, cosmic acceleration, stellar evolution, SMBH growth, cosmology, and dense matter physics, but only with a concerted jump in optical/near‑IR spectroscopic follow‑up. It presents a framework of science questions and a technology roadmap centered on a dedicated, large‑aperture time‑domain facility capable of rapid, flexible spectroscopy in the – nm range and –, distributed across both hemispheres. The approach relies on integrating triggers from next‑generation GW, neutrino, and EM observatories (e.g., BNS mergers yr; LISA/PTA localisations weeks before merger) with deep spectroscopic characterization to measure redshifts, ejecta composition, and viewing geometry, constrain the dense matter EoS, and perform precision cosmology via bright standard sirens. The practical impact is a transformed ability to map the physics of compact object mergers, test fundamental physics (e.g., Lorentz invariance), and perform precision cosmology, provided a dedicated spectroscopic facility is built as recommended.

Abstract

Multi-messenger astronomy will be transformed in the 2040s by an unprecedented volume of detections from next-generation gravitational wave, high-energy, and ultra-high energy neutrino, cosmic ray, and time domain observatories. This white paper, prepared for the European Southern Observatory (ESO) Expanding Horizons call, outlines the key science questions enabled by this emerging multi-messenger ecosystem, ranging from nucleosynthesis and dense matter physics to cosmology, fundamental physics, and the growth of black holes across cosmic time. We demonstrate that fully exploiting these discoveries requires a step change in optical to near infrared spectroscopic capability, including low latency response, high throughput, and flexible time domain operations across both hemispheres. We argue that without a dedicated large-aperture time domain facility, the scientific return of multi-messenger astronomy in the 2040s will be considerably limited.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 3 sections, 2 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction and Background
  2. Open Science Questions
  3. Technology Requirements

Figures (2)

  • Figure 1: Timelines for a subset of MMA facilities in the 2040s.
  • Figure 2: Top panel shows the evolution timescales of GW170817 and its counterpart, with detections across a selection of wavebands indicated. The bottom left panel illustrates the GW chirp and associated high-energy prompt emission. The bottom right panel shows the evolution of the spectral flux density over the first several hundred days of the kilonova and GRB afterglow. Rapid changes in brightness and spectral properties during the first several days (shaded region) highlight the necessity of intensive, rapid-response follow-up observations from the UV to the NIR, which are also a prerequisite for successful counterpart identification. (Figure adapted from NASA; Abbott2017b; Kunal Mooley).