Gravitational Waves and Gamma Ray Bursts (gravity): Implementing and testing a search for gravitational wavesassociated to Gamma Ray Bursts, as well as understanding the expected implications of the search

Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) are extremely energetic, short lived, bursts of gamma rays typically originating in distant galaxies. They are classified in two groups, long and short, thought to be caused by, respectively, the collapse of massive stars and the merger of neutron stars. Since both of these processes would emit gravitational waves, any nearby GRB is an excellent candidate source. With the advanced LIGO and Virgo detectors expected to begin data taking in 2015, there is a real prospect of detecting gravitational waves associated with GRBs in the coming years. This project will involve implementing and testing a search for gravitational waves
associated to Gamma Ray Bursts, as well as understanding the expected implications of the search -- both in the presence and absence of an observed gravitational wave. It will involve running the analysis on the advanced LIGO and Virgo data and interpreting the results. Throughout, the project will require close collaboration with other gravitational wave and gamma ray astronomers.