Dr. Dimple Panchal

Compact binary mergers involving neutron stars are fundamental sites of extreme astrophysical processes, producing gravitational waves (GWs), gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and heavy elements through r-process nucleosynthesis. These mergers serve as crucial laboratories for understanding relativistic jets, neutron star equation-of-state constraints, and the synthesis of elements like gold and platinum. In this talk, I will discuss the classification of GRBs, focusing on distinguishing between collapsar-driven and compact binary merger origins. By leveraging multi-wavelength observations and machine-learning techniques, we can identify subtle patterns within GRB parameter space, improving our ability to classify mergers and uncover their physical properties. Additionally, I will explore how the joint analysis of GWs and GRBs aids in constraining the merger rates of binary neutron star (BNS) and neutron star–black hole (NSBH) systems. Finally, I will highlight the role of high-redshift GRBs in tracing the chemical evolution of the universe, particularly their contributions to r-process enrichment and the formation of heavy elements in the early cosmos.