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PIRSA:13020126

Exploiting the Strong Gravitational Fields of Neutron Stars to Measure their Properties

Psaltis, D. (2013). Exploiting the Strong Gravitational Fields of Neutron Stars to Measure their Properties. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/13020126

Dimitrios Psaltis University of Arizona

Talk numberPIRSA:13020126
DOI10.48660/13020126
Collection
Talk Type Scientific Series
Subject

Abstract

Neutron stars possess the strongest gravitational fields among stellar objects in the Universe that are not surrounded by a horizon. This causes the emission from their surfaces to be strongly lensed and deformed. Two upcoming space X-ray missions, ESA's LOFT and NASA's NICER, aim to use observations of lightcurves from spinning neutron stars to map their gravitational fields as well as measure their masses and radii. In this talk, I will discuss some unexpected strong-field phenomena that affect gravitational lensing in the vicinity of neutron stars. I will then show how we can use these phenomena to measure strong-field frame dragging and break degeneracies in the measured neutron-star masses and radii.