Kilonova Detectability with Wide-field Instruments

Abstract Kilonovae are ultraviolet, optical, and infrared transients powered by the radioactive decay of heavy elements following a neutron star merger. Joint observations kilonovae gravitational waves can offer key constraints on source Galactic r -process enrichment, among other astrophysical topics. However, robust element production require rapid kilonova detection (within ∼1 day merger) as well multiwavelength across multiple epochs. In this study, we quantify ability 13 wide-field-of-view instruments to detect kilonovae, leveraging large grid over 900 radiative transfer simulations with 54 viewing angles per simulation. We consider both current upcoming instruments, collectively spanning full spectrum. The Roman Space Telescope has highest redshift reach any instrument in observing out z ∼ 1 within first post-merger. demonstrate that BlackGEM, DECam, GOTO, Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s LSST, ULTRASAT, VISTA, WINTER observe some 0.1 (∼475 Mpc), while DDOTI, MeerLICHT, PRIME, Swift/UVOT, ZTF confined more nearby observations. Furthermore, provide framework infer ejecta properties nondetections explore variation detectability these parameters.