Speaker
Prof.
Nils Andersson
(University of Southampton)
Description
Astronomers observe neutron stars in many guises. We see pulsars that emit regular radio, X-ray or gamma-ray signals. We observe systems that emit X-rays as they accrete matter from a binary companion. The observations allow us – at least in principle – to probe a regime of physics that can never be reached in terrestrial laboratories, allowing us to constrain the equation of state at supranuclear densities. However, neutron stars are hands-off laboratories. We can only extract the fundamental physics indirectly, by matching our theories to observed behaviour. Given the variety of observed phenomena and the fact that neutron stars come in many guises, this is a serious challenge.
In this talk I will summarise the current state-of-the-art of this area, and describe how a revolutionary generation of telescopes may lead to a breakthrough in our understanding of matter under extreme conditions.
Primary author
Prof.
Nils Andersson
(University of Southampton)
