Astronomy Department Calendar

View Full Calendar

Astronomy Colloquium - "Astromaterials in Neutron Star Crusts"

Event Type
Seminar/Symposium
Sponsor
Astronomy Department
Location
Astronomy 134
Date
Oct 29, 2019   3:45 pm  
Speaker
Dr. Matt Caplan, Illinois State University
Contact
Rebecca Bare
E-Mail
rsbare@illinois.edu
Phone
217-333-3090
Views
49
Originating Calendar
Astronomy Colloquium Speaker Calendar

Stars freeze. After their deaths in supernova the outer layers of neutron stars freeze and form a solid. In some ways this makes neutron stars like the earth, with a thin solid crust enveloping a liquid core. To interpret observations of neutron stars and constrain nuclear theory the 'astromaterials' in this crust must be understood. Broadly speaking, this crust has two components. Nuclei form solid crystal lattices near the top. Deeper, at the crust-core boundary, nuclei rearrange and form exotic shapes called "nuclear pasta." I will discuss recent work using simulations of astromaterials to interpret observations of neutron stars. In addition, I will comment on YouTube as a platform for education and public outreach.

link for robots only