Transients
Transients Science Working Group Introduction
The SKA Science Working Group on The Transient Universe aims to explore what variable and one-off astrophysical signals can teach us about topics ranging from stellar evolution and relativistic astrophysics to cosmology. Transient radio signals point to the sites of the most extreme phenomena in our Universe: e.g. supernovae, merging neutron stars, and the ultra-relativistic jets from accreting black holes. They give us unique insight into fundamental physics and through propagation effects in the radio signal they allow us to probe the intervening ionized and magnetized material that would otherwise be invisible to us.

Related 2015 “Advancing Astrophysics with the Square Kilometre Array” Chapters
- See appropriate section here
Related 2004 “Science with the Square Kilometre Array” Chapters
- “The dynamic radio sky” Cordes et al.
- “The exploration of the unknown” Wilkinson et al.
Working Group Membership
Members of the the Transients Science Working group can be found here
Please contact the co-chairs if you are interested in joining the group.
The current co-chairs are:
- Jason Hessels (ASTRON, Netherlands), J.W.T.Hessels@uva.nl
- Patrick Woudt (UCT, South Africa), pwoudt@ast.uct.ac.za
Membership details can be found here
Previous Chairs
- Michael Rupen 2015-2020
- Jean-Pierre Macquart (RIP) 2015-2017
- Rob Fender 2013-2015