Dynamics of compact stars in extreme gravitational fields

极端引力场中致密恒星的动力学

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-04640
• 负责人: Poisson, Eric
• 金额: $ 3.64万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=762553
• 关键词: Dynamics; compact; stars; extreme; gravitational

The 2015 discovery of gravitational waves from merging black holes marked the dawn of gravitational wave astronomy, a tremendous scientific development that was rewarded with the 2017 Nobel Prize in physics. Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime, produced by the accelerated motion of massive bodies. Their production requires the most dense objects to be found in the universe, such as neutron stars and black holes, and these objects must move extremely rapidly, which is the case when they form a tight binary system. Their measurement requires large dedicated facilities such as the LIGO and Virgo observatories. The detection of several sources of gravitational waves, involving both black holes and neutron stars, is a great triumph of the LIGO/Virgo collaboration, and the effort is ongoing. Gravitational-wave astronomy opens up a new window onto the universe, to better observe its darkest reaches. The long-term goal of my research is to exploit gravitational-wave astronomy to dramatically improve our understanding of neutron stars and black holes. To reach this goal, my students and I elucidate the physical processes at play when two such objects form a tight binary. For example, a neutron star raises a tide on a companion neutron star, much as the moon raises a tide on Earth, and the tidal deformation affects their orbital motion and the emission of gravitational waves. The tidal imprint on the waves can be measured, and this will reveal intimate details of the physics of neutron stars. This is very exciting, because neutron stars are poorly understood, involving densities of matter that are far beyond what can be found on Earth. As another example, the tidal interaction between two black holes changes the mass and spin of each object, and this can be revealed in the emitted gravitational waves. This also is very exciting, because the tidal effects featured in the waves will reveal some of the black hole's most elusive properties, such as the shape of its event horizon. The goal of this research proposal is to further the study of neutron stars and black holes, so as to better predict the gravitational waves emitted by such objects. To carry this out, my students and I will use the techniques of theoretical physics, manipulating the laws of physics governing black holes, neutron stars, and gravitational waves, so as to extract precise predictions to be shared with the wider scientific community.

2015年从合并黑洞中发现引力波的发现标志着引力波天文学的曙光，这是一种巨大的科学发展，获得了2017年诺贝尔物理学奖的奖励。引力波是时空织物的涟漪，由大体体的加速运动产生。他们的生产需要在宇宙中找到最密集的物体，例如中子恒星和黑洞，这些物体必须非常快速移动，当它们形成紧密的二进制系统时，情况就是这种情况。它们的测量需要大型专用设施，例如Ligo和处女座观测。涉及黑洞和中子星的引力波的几个来源的检测是Ligo/处女座协作的巨大胜利，并且努力正在进行中。引力波天文学为宇宙打开了一个新窗口，以更好地观察其最黑暗的范围。 我的研究的长期目标是利用重力波天文学，以极大地提高我们对中子恒星和黑洞的理解。为了实现这一目标，当两个这样的物体形成一个紧密的二进制物体时，我和我的学生阐明了身体过程。例如，中子恒星在伴侣中子恒星上引起了潮汐，就像月亮在地球上潮汐一样，潮汐变形会影响其轨道运动和引力波的发射。可以测量波浪上的潮汐烙印，这将揭示中子恒星物理学的亲密细节。这是非常令人兴奋的，因为中子恒星的理解很少，涉及物质的密度，远远超出了地球上可以找到的物质。作为另一个例子，两个黑洞之间的潮汐相互作用改变了每个物体的质量和自旋，并且可以在发射的重力波中揭示。这也是非常令人兴奋的，因为波浪中的潮汐效应将揭示一些黑洞最难以捉摸的特性，例如其事件范围的形状。 该研究建议的目的是进一步研究中子星和黑洞，以便更好地预测此类物体发出的重力波。为此，我和我的学生将使用理论物理学的技术，操纵管理黑洞，中子星和引力波的物理定律，以提取与更广泛的科学界共享的精确预测。