First Announcement
Recent observations address specific questions relating to the structure, nuclear reactions, and transport properties of the neutron star crust. Explosive phenomena -- X-ray bursts and superbursts on accreting neutron stars, and giant flares on magnetars -- are providing new insights about the thermal and magnetic evolution of the crust. Theoretical models of these phenomena have identified the role of nuclear physics, neutrino cooling, and transport properties in the crust, and a standard model for the neutron star crust is beginning to emerge. However, fundamental questions remain unanswered.
The purpose of this workshop is to bring together researchers in astrophysics, nuclear physics, plasma physics, and related areas, to identify and address the key issues of explosive phenomena and related questions about the thermal and magnetic evolution of the neutron star crust on longer timescales. We hope that this workshop will be an ideal venue to discuss future developments in theory, observations, and experimental nuclear physics that would influence the direction of the field and form new collaborations to address the open questions. We expect an equal mix of observers, nuclear/astro theorists and nuclear experimentalists.
Key Topics
- Observations of bursts, superbursts and flares: Current status and future prospects.
- X-ray bursts and superbursts: hydro simulations, accretion onto compact objects, nuclear physics and radiation transport.
- Giant Flares: Mechanism, MHD simulations, QPOs, crustal and global excitations.
- Neutron star crust: nuclear structure, reactions, neutrino cooling and material science.
- Inner crust: Transport properties, superfluidity and nuclear pasta phases.