Understanding the Physics of Neutron Star Interiors

我的计划将提高我们对中子星内部的理解（NS，对核物理很重要），以及包含NS的双星星星系统的演化。 测量NS的半径是困难的，但对限制其组成至关重要，研究球状星团中静止NS的方法可能是最有前途的。 我领导的项目，以限制这种方法中的系统误差，并获得观测所需的精度，以提供有用的约束核物理。我正在解开NS之间中微子发射的差异，这有望照亮NS核心中中子超流性的转变，以及快速Urca过程中微子发射的密度阈值。 我正在探索包含NS和黑洞的二元系统的演化，通过开发新的观测活动来识别低光度瞬态X射线源，并研究球状星团中静止NS和黑洞的种群。 这些项目为我提供了机会，培养研究生和本科生在X射线和光学分析技术，科学问题的解决和提问，以及沟通。 早期接触天体物理学研究将特别有利于那些希望继续在这一领域。 学习新软件和脚本语言，科学问题解决和沟通的技能也将使进入工业或其他物理领域的学生受益。

My program will improve our understanding of the interiors of neutron stars (NSs, important for nuclear physics), and of the evolution of binary star systems containing NSs. Measuring the radius of NSs is difficult, but crucial for constraining their composition, and the method of studying quiescent NSs in globular clusters is likely the most promising. I am leading projects to constrain systematic errors in this method, and obtain observations with the precision needed to give useful constraints on nuclear physics. I am unraveling differences in neutrino emission among NSs, which promise to illuminate the transition to neutron superfluidity in NS cores, and the density threshold for rapid Urca-process neutrino emission. I am exploring the evolution of binary systems containing NSs and black holes, through developing new observational campaigns to identify low-luminosity transient X-ray sources, and studying populations of quiescent NSs and black holes in globular clusters. These projects offer opportunities for me to train graduate and undergraduate students in X-ray and optical analysis techniques, scientific problem-solving and question-asking, and communication. Early exposure to astrophysics research will especially benefit those hoping to continue in this area. Skills in learning new software and scripting languages, scientific problem-solving, and communication will also benefit students who go into industry or other areas of physics.