Abstract

The electromagnetic interaction of compact object magnetospheres during the final moments of inspiral in neutron star mergers can generate coherent radio emission. If one neutron star has a surface magnetic field >= 10^12 Gauss, a mechanism similar to radio emission from pulsar polar caps operates, emitting coherent millisecond radio bursts with characteristic temporal morphology and viewing angle dependence that are observable to Gpc distances with next-generation radio facilities. In this seminar, I will talk about this radio emission process, and explore a few of the multi-messenger and multiwavelength methods of identification of radio bursts of a neutron star merger origin, such as in blind and rapid response fast radio burst searches, triggered observations of gravitational wave events and follow-up of gamma-ray burst radio afterglows. I will also discuss some evolutionary channels which can build the kind of binary system that are required for viewing this emission to large distances.