Public Lecture: The Extreme Physics of Zombie Stars

Nils Andersson presents a lecture summarising our current thinking about the physics associated with neutron stars, the most compact material bodies we find in the Universe. Formed when a massive star dies in a supernova, these “zombie stars” involve many extremes of physics (in terms of density, pressure, temperature, magnetic fields and so on) which cannot be tested in our laboratories.

Nils will explain the challenges associated with this and describe how precise astronomical observations (gravitational waves!) are improving our understanding.

Nils is an expert on Einstein’s relativistic theory of gravity and has worked on many aspects of black holes, neutron stars and gravitational waves for the past three decades. He is particularly interested in the complexities associated with modelling neutron stars, which stretch our understanding of physics (and perhaps the imagination, as well).

This lecture is open to Members, and to non-Members for a small fee. Please click here to reserve your place.