Neutron Stars as
Dense-Matter Laboratories
Bennett Link
Montana State University
An outstanding question in fundamental physics concerns the state of
matter at densities above nuclear density. While current laboratory
experiments cannot produce stable matter above this density, matter at
supra-nuclear densities exists in abundance in the numerous neutron
stars in the Universe (of which about one million occupy our own
galaxy). A neutron star is a fascinating system, composed of over a
solar mass of matter at 3-10 times nuclear density in beta
equilibrium. Unfortunately, complexities of the strong force at such
densities leave many properties of the neutron star interior
indeterminable, at least at present, from first principles. On the
other hand, much can be deduced from observed dynamics. I will describe
how the rich spin behavior of neutron stars can be used to probe the
properties and dynamics of the dense quantum liquids these objects
contain.
Astrophysics Seminar
Markus Böttcher's home page
OU Astronomy and Astrophysics
Department Physics and Astronomy
Ohio University