Matter and Radiation in Superstrong Magnetic Fields

越来越多的证据表明，存在具有超强磁场（10到1000万亿高斯）的中子星，包括射电脉冲星、磁星和其他无无线电信号的中子星。最近的观察揭示了许多谜题，并提出了需要理论理解和建模的重要问题。本项目将对高磁化中子星的表面、大气和磁层进行物理和天体物理研究。这项工作基本上分为两部分。首先，定量计算凝聚态物质在强磁场中的内聚特性。这些是表征磁化中子星表面的基本量。还将探讨中子星在强磁场下的强表面内聚力可能产生的观测结果，包括脉冲星和磁星磁层中的表面凝结和极性间隙加速器（与射电发射有关）的发展。其次，研究各种环境下质子/离子回旋线传输的基本物理，并将其应用于中子星大气和磁星爆发中的辐射泡。赖博士正在进行的重元素部分电离中子星大气的数值模拟项目也将继续进行。一些研究结果（例如，不同场强下凝聚态物质的内聚特性）将对天体物理学/物理界具有持久的价值，而不仅仅是解释特定的观测结果。研究生将在这里得到支持，并在科学计算和这项工作所需的多学科科目方面得到培训，同时也将促进国际合作。研究结果将发表在经过评审的期刊上，并在适当的科学会议上提出。将创建一个网络界面，研究人员可以方便地访问这些结果。此外，赖博士将把这项研究的结果整合到他在康奈尔大学的通识教育讲座中。

There has been growing evidence for the existence of neutron stars with super-strong magnetic fields (10 to 1,000 trillion Gauss), including radio pulsars, magnetars and other radio-quiet neutron stars. Recent observations have revealed a number of puzzles and raised important questions that require theoretical understanding and modeling. In this project, the physics and astrophysics related to the surfaces, atmospheres, and magnetospheres of highly magnetized neutron stars will be studied. The work is essentially organized into two parts. First, quantitative calculations of the cohesive properties of condensed matter in strong magnetic fields will be performed. These are fundamental quantities characterizing magnetized neutron star surfaces. The possible observational consequences of strong surface cohesion of neutron stars with strong magnetic fields will also be explored, including surface condensation and the development of polar gap accelerators (relevant to radio emission) in the magnetospheres of pulsars and magnetars. Second, the basic physics of proton/ion cyclotron line transfer in a variety of environments will be studied, and applied the physics to neutron star atmospheres and radiation bubbles in magnetar outbursts. Dr. Lai's ongoing program of numerical modeling of partially ionized neutron star atmospheres of heavy elements will also be continued.Some of the research results (e.g. the cohesive property of condensed matter at different field strengths) will have lasting value to the astrophysics/physics community, going beyond explaining particular observations. A graduate student will be supported here and trained in scientific computing and multidisciplinary subjects required for this work, and an international collaboration will also be fostered. The results will be published in refereed journals and presented in appropriate scientific meetings. A web interface where researchers can easily access these results will be created. In addition, Dr. Lai will integrate the results of this research into his general education lectures at Cornell.