Matter and Radiation in Superstrong Magnetic Fields

有越来越多的证据表明存在具有超强磁场（10至1,000万亿高斯）的中子星，包括射电暴，磁星和其他无线电安静的中子星。 最近的观测揭示了一些谜题，并提出了需要理论理解和建模的重要问题。在这个项目中，将研究与高磁化中子星的表面、大气和磁层有关的物理学和天体物理学。 这项工作基本上分为两部分。首先，将进行强磁场中凝聚态物质凝聚特性的定量计算。 这些是表征磁化中子星星表面的基本量。 还将探讨具有强磁场的中子星的强表面凝聚力可能产生的观测后果，包括表面凝聚和在磁星和磁星的磁层中发展极隙加速器（与无线电发射有关）。 其次，将研究各种环境中质子/离子回旋加速线转移的基本物理学，并将该物理学应用于中子星星大气和磁星爆发中的辐射泡。 黎博士的重元素部分电离中子星星大气的数值模拟计划亦会继续进行，部分研究结果（例如凝聚态物质在不同场强下的凝聚特性）将对天体物理学/物理学界有持久的价值，而不仅仅是解释个别的观测结果。 一名研究生将在这里得到支持，并接受这项工作所需的科学计算和多学科科目的培训，还将促进国际合作。 研究结果将发表在权威期刊上，并在适当的科学会议上介绍。 将创建一个研究人员可以轻松访问这些结果的网络界面。 此外，赖博士将把这项研究的成果融入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.