Title: Pulsars and FRBs: Recent Developments

Location: Lecture Hall, 3rd floor

Date & Time: 3 PM, Nov. 10 (Thursday)

Speaker: Dr. Richard N. Manchester, CSIRO, 澳大利亚科学院院士

Abstract:
Pulsars and Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are fascinating phenomena, both of which are “hot topics” in current astrophysical research. In both cases, the physics of the sources is not well understood but, despite that, they are incredibly useful probes of a wide range of astrophysical problems. After a brief introduction describing their basic properties, I will review some recent developments in pulsar and FRB research, including a new model for estimating pulsar and FRB distances, improved tests of gravitational theories using binary pulsars and efforts to detect gravitational waves using pulsar timing arrays (PTAs). Other applications of PTA data sets will also be described. Finally, I will discuss how new and more sensitive radio telescopes such as the recently opened FAST radio telescope in Guizhou will contribute to pulsar and FRB research.