Investigation of high-energy and high-density astrophysical phenomena

• Grant number: 08/09136-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2009
• End date: August 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Astronomy - Stellar Astrophysics
• Principal Investigator: Germán Lugones
• Grantee: Germán Lugones
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 10/09737-8 - Study and determination of the internal structure of compact stars, BP.PD; 10/08489-0 - Numerical simulation of the internal evolution of compact stars., BP.DR; 10/01897-6 - Compact Star Oscillations, BP.DR

Abstract

In this project we propose the theoretical and numerical research of various astrophysical phenomena, most of them related to neutron stars. In particular, we intend to investigate the following topics: the structure and evolution of compact stars, bursts of gamma radiation (especially short GRBs and SGRs), oscillations of compact stars, magnetic fields and superconductivity in compact stars, shock waves and combustion processes in astrophysics, and cosmological phase transitions. Concomitantly, we intend to use the astrophysical laboratory for the investigation of fundamental questions of particle physics such as the state of matter at extremely high densities (e.g. phase diagram of QCD, color superconductivity, quark-hadron phase transition) and to put astrophysical limits on theories beyond the standard model of particle physics (e.g. pseudo-scalar particles).In this project we propose the theoretical and numerical research of various astrophysical phenomena, most of them related to neutron stars. In particular, we intend to investigate the following topics: the structure and evolution of compact stars, bursts of gamma radiation (especially short GRBs and SGRs), oscillations of compact stars, magnetic fields and superconductivity in compact stars, shock waves and combustion processes in astrophysics, and cosmological phase transitions. Concomitantly, we intend to use the astrophysical laboratory for the investigation of fundamental questions of particle physics such as the state of matter at extremely high densities (e.g. phase diagram of QCD, color superconductivity, quark-hadron phase transition) and to put astrophysical limits on theories beyond the standard model of particle physics (e.g. pseudo-scalar particles). (AU)