The Coolest Fireworks: Cross-Field Perspectives on Dusty Astrophysical Transients

Lead Organizers: Andrea Antoni, Viraj Karambelkar, Logan Prust
Administrative Lead: Jake Schertz
Additional Scientific Organizers: Brian Metzger, Kishalay De, Matteo Cantiello, Yan-Fei Jiang

Rationale:

Time-domain surveys of the past decade have revealed a population of low luminosity transients of stellar origin evolving on months to years timescales including luminous red novae, intermediate luminosity red transients, and, possibly, failed supernovae. These systems evolve from optical to infrared wavelengths as dust forms in the expanding ejecta, remaining bright infrared sources for years. With several new and upcoming infrared surveys (e.g., WINTER, PRIME, SPHEREx, Cryoscope, Roman), we are now squarely in the era of time-domain astrophysics in the infrared. Combined with Rubin, we can study dust and molecule formation in these systems like never before to learn about the progenitor systems that drive these transients as well as the contribution of these transients to the cosmic dust budget.

The formation and properties of dust and molecules in dynamic environments have been studied in great depth in the context of systems like AGB stars, classical novae, supernovae, tidal disruption events, and AGN. The workshop aims to connect dust experts with observers and theorists working on dusty transients to better model the formation, appearance, and effects of dust and molecules in transients.

The 4-day workshop will include pedagogical overview talks, high level talks to highlight individual transient classes, and tool show-and-tells to highlight different methods used in theory and observation. The workshop will include extensive time for discussion and collaboration.

Confirmed participants:

Arka Sarangi
Bhagya Subrayan
Chris Kochanek
Jan Cami
Jared Goldberg
Jeniveve Pearson
Jim Fuller
Jing-Ze Ma
Kengo Shinoda
Kohki Uno
Laura Chomiuk
Luis Bermudez
Marco A. Gómez-Muñoz
Martha Boyer
Megan Masterson
Melissa Shahbandeh
Morgan MacLeod
Nadia Blagorodnova
Naunet Jose Leonhardes-Barboza
Ondrej Pejcha
Peter Craig
Ricardo Yarza
Ryan Lau
Sam Rose
Semih Tuna
Sophie Kressy
Sundar Srinivasan
Tea Temim
Valeriia Rohoza