Title: Mapping the neutron star crust in low mass X-ray binaries

Speaker: Prof. Andrew W. Cumming

Time: Oct. 12 2010, 2pm

Location: Middle conference room

Abstract:

Neutron stars are unique laboratories for testing the nature of matter at high densities, and our understanding of these objects has improved dramatically over the last few years, driven by new observational discoveries. In particular, long term monitoring observations of accreting neutron stars have opened up a new way to study neutron star interiors. In this talk I will show that models of the cooling of the neutron star following extended accretion outbursts allow us to map out the properties of the neutron star crust, including the superfluid neutrons, the condensed matter physics of the crust, and the complex nuclear pathway that the matter follows as it is compressed towards nuclear density.