Understanding Matter at Super-Nuclear Density Using Gravitational Waves and X-Ray Astronomy
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Shaon Ghosh
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2023 12:30 PM
End Date
26-4-2023 1:30 PM
Description
Neutron stars (NS) are among the most extreme objects in the universe. They are the results of the gravitational collapse of a star whose internal fusion engines have run out of “fuel”. This collapse is stalled by the quantum degeneracy pressure resulting from the creation of a neutron dense core at the center of the star due to the immense pressure there. The state of the NS matter is of interest to astronomers because of the immense pressure the matter is subjected to due to the force of the star’s own gravity. Terrestrial laboratories are unable to mimic this environment. On the other hand, to understand this state of matter theoretically we need a complete understanding of the nuclear strong interactions, which we presently do not have. This lack of experimental data and theoretical understanding of the governing interaction of matter on that scale results in the matter of the neutron star equation of state (EoS) being one of the great unknowns of modern astrophysics. In this project, we propose a method of combining information coming from two observation channels, electromagnetism and gravitational waves, to produce the most informed constraints on the EoS of NS matter.
Understanding Matter at Super-Nuclear Density Using Gravitational Waves and X-Ray Astronomy
Neutron stars (NS) are among the most extreme objects in the universe. They are the results of the gravitational collapse of a star whose internal fusion engines have run out of “fuel”. This collapse is stalled by the quantum degeneracy pressure resulting from the creation of a neutron dense core at the center of the star due to the immense pressure there. The state of the NS matter is of interest to astronomers because of the immense pressure the matter is subjected to due to the force of the star’s own gravity. Terrestrial laboratories are unable to mimic this environment. On the other hand, to understand this state of matter theoretically we need a complete understanding of the nuclear strong interactions, which we presently do not have. This lack of experimental data and theoretical understanding of the governing interaction of matter on that scale results in the matter of the neutron star equation of state (EoS) being one of the great unknowns of modern astrophysics. In this project, we propose a method of combining information coming from two observation channels, electromagnetism and gravitational waves, to produce the most informed constraints on the EoS of NS matter.