Title: Probing Extreme Physics with Compact Objects

Speaker: Prof. Dong Lai, The Astronomy Department at Cornell

Time and place: 13:00-14:00, January 11 (Friday), 2013, Lecture Hall/INPAC

Abstract:

Compact objects (white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes) are associated with some of the most exotic phenomena and environments in the universe. They have been observed in all electromagnetic wave bands, from radio to gamma rays, and are likely to be detected in gravitational waves in this decade. Their strong gravities, high densities and magnetic fields provide a unique avenue for exploring physics under extreme conditions. In this talk, I will highlight recent progress and discuss future prospects in the astrophysics of compact objects, with focus on neutron stars.