(Proposal ID) S16A-041

(PI) Yoshida, Michitoshi

(Proposal Title)
Optical-infrared follow-up observation of gravitational wave sources

(Abstract)
We propose ToO observation of gravitational wave (GW) sources detected by the 
Advanced LIGO detector. GW is a quadrupole wave of space distortion propagating
 with the light speed. GW has not been directly detected so far, but soon 
coming, advanced large GW detectors including LIGO, Virgo, or KAGRA will have 
capability of detecting GW emitted from violent gravitational interaction such 
as binary neutron star coalescence occurred within 100 - 200 Mpc. In order to 
reveal the nature of the GW sources, electromagnetic (EM) follow-up 
observation is crucial. Without EM counterpart, we can say nothing about the 
true origin of the GW phenomena. Among the GW detector development projects, 
LIGO is the top runner, and its regular operation is anticipated to start at 
the end of 2015. We have developed a Japan GW source follow-up network, J-GEM 
with a number of domestic institutes. J-GEM has already exchanged a MoU with 
LIGO/Virgo collaboration on EM follow-up of the candidates of the GW sources 
which LIGO will detect, thus we can receive GW alerts from LIGO team 
immediately after the GW detection. We plan to make follow-up observations 
with HSC, FOCAS, or MOIRCS of Subaru Telescope in collaboration with J-GEM.