Understanding the Physics of Pulsar Core Radiation and Supernova "Kicks"

被称为脉冲星的城市大小、快速旋转的中子星主要通过其射频发射束向天文学家揭示，这些射束扫过地球，就像灯塔信标一样。这些射电“闪光”显示了丰富多样的现象，反映了脉冲星磁层中的复杂过程，而这反过来又反映了恒星表面上方的奇异物理条件。因此，脉冲星提供了独特的重要机会来扩展和测试我们在极端条件下对物理学的基本理解。在这里，脉冲星发射的机制将通过关注两个密切相关的问题来研究：将首次研究它们在单个脉冲中的主要核心发射；将确定其垂直极化模式相对于磁场的方向，从而为评估、建模和发展适当的物理理论提供重要的新机会。观测、分析和理论工作将由一个熟练而有经验的国际团队进行，成员包括兰金博士、研究生、本科生以及印度和欧洲的合作者。兰金博士还将继续向K-12学校和公众发表关于脉冲星的公开演讲。

The city-sized, rapidly rotating, neutron stars known as pulsars are revealed to astronomers primarily through their radio-frequency emission beams, which sweep past the Earth much like lighthouse beacons. These trains of radio "flashes" exhibit a rich variety of phenomena, reflecting complex processes in the pulsar magnetosphere that in turn reflect exotic physical conditions above the stellar surface. Pulsars thus provide uniquely important opportunities to extend and test our basic understanding of physics in extreme conditions. Here, the mechanism of pulsar emission will be studied by focusing on two closely connected issues: their predominant core emission in single pulses will be investigated for the first time; and the orientation of its orthogonally polarized modes relative to the magnetic field will be determined, thereby providing important new opportunities to assess, model, and develop appropriate physical theories.The observational, analytical and theoretical work will be conducted by a skilled and experienced international team which will include Dr. Rankin, a graduate student, undergraduates, and collaborators in India and Europe. Dr. Rankin will also continue her public talks on pulsars to K-12 schools and the general public.