Discovering Radio Transients using ‘Triggered’ and ‘Targeted’ Observations

Abstract

As the era of the Square Kilometre Array approaches, astronomers are investigating how to make good use of its facilities for studying radio transients. This talk presented two different methods for radio transient discovery – ‘triggered’ and ‘targeted’ observations – which can be used to supplement the blind survey approach. Both techniques focus on performing radio observations of sky regions in which we expect to find radio transients. ‘Triggered’ observations are obtained by telescopes capable of responding rapidly to transient alerts; they automatically repoint and begin collecting data within minutes of the alert being given. ‘Targeted’ observational techniques involve radio monitoring of specific sources or regions such as nearby, face-on galaxies, globular clusters, and the Galactic Plane. Such observations are sensitive to transient radio jets from black holes accreting at, or above, the Eddington limit, with the additional benefit of providing many potential sources within a single field of view. Both observing strategies illustrate important techniques for radio transient discovery that can be employed by the SKA.