Matter and Radiation in Superstrong Magnetic Fields of Neutron Stars

Lai，DongAST 0307252中子星是大多数大质量恒星的坍缩终态。它们为地球上无法实现的极端条件下的物理学提供了试验场。 对孤立中子星（包括射电中子星、射电宁静中子星和磁动力脉冲中子星）热辐射的研究可以提供有关中子星内部物理、磁场、表面成分等性质的重要信息。特别是新一代的X射线望远镜，为这类研究带来了巨大的希望，高质量的数据已经在网上发布。理解强磁场中物质和辐射的性质对于正确解释当前和未来的中子星星表面辐射观测是必不可少的。该项目的主要研究者在一系列相关调查中继续系统地研究强磁化中子星的表面层和辐射光谱。PI正在研究强磁场中物质的电子和辐射特性，超强磁场制度中辐射的传播，检查磁性中子星辐射光谱以与观测进行比较的大气模型，以及与具有超强磁场的冷中子星有关的凝聚金属氢和氦的某些相变及其辐射特征。更广泛的影响。该研究项目包括对研究生（包括一名女学生）的培训和支持，也包括有才华的本科生。“极端条件下的天体物理学”的主题对本科生（甚至是非理科学生）有广泛的吸引力，PI为本科生和公众提供了许多关于这个主题的演讲。与康奈尔大学的固态物理学家，俄罗斯和法国的等离子物理学家和天体物理学家进行了积极的合作和跨学科研究。PI还为观察组提供理论模型。目前正在与激光能量学实验室的科学家讨论如何利用强激光探索实验室天体物理学研究。

Lai, DongAST 0307252Neutron stars are the collapsed end states for most massive stars. They provide a testing ground for physics under extreme conditions unrealizable on the Earth. The study of thermal radiation from isolated neutron stars (including radio pulsars, radio-quiet neutron stars and magnetically-powered pulsing neutron stars) can provide important information on the interior physics, magnetic fields, surface composition and other properties of neutron stars. The new generation of X-ray telescopes, especially, are bringing great promise to such study, and high-quality data are already coming online. Understanding the properties of matter and radiation in strong magnetic fields is essential for the proper interpretation of the current and future observations of neutron star surface emission. The principle investigator (PI) of this project is continuing to systematically study the surface layers and the radiation spectra of strongly magnetized neutron stars in a series of related investigation. The PI is studying the electronic and radiative properties of matter in strong magnetic fields, the propagation of radiation in the superstrong magnetic field regime, atmosphere models to examine radiation spectra from magnetic neutron stars for comparisons with observations, and certain phase transitions of condensed metallic hydrogen and helium and their radiation signatures, relevant to cool neutron stars with superstrong magnetic fields. Broader Impacts. The research project includes training and support for graduate students (including a woman student), and it involves talented undergraduate students as well. The subject of "Astrophysics under Extreme Conditions" has a broad appeal to undergraduate students (even nonscience students), and the PI gives many presentations on this subject to undergraduates and the general public. There is active collaboration and interdisciplinary research with solid state physicists at Cornell, and plasma physicists and astrophysicists in Russia and France. The PI also provides theoretical models to observational groups. Discussion is underway with scientists at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics to explore laboratory astrophysics research using intense lasers.