Journal Club: Neutron Stars and Nuclear Pasta

Fri., Oct. 29, 2021 3:30 p.m. - Fri., Oct. 29, 2021 4:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Abstract: Neutron Stars are among the most exotic objects in the universe, with physical properties that are nearly unimaginable. Due to the immense pressures involved, the hadronic physics within the neutron star exists in a domain very different from what can ever be probed directly by experiments on Earth. The properties of these neutron stars, and what they imply for our knowledge of nuclear and hadronic physics is a very active field of inquiry. For example, last May, we had a Journal Club discussion on new neutron star observation results from the NICER Collaboration and the exciting implications this has on the neutron star equation of state (EoS). One of the predictions of hadronic models describing the neutron star EoS is the existence of an extremely exotic form of nuclear matter known as "nuclear pasta". Recent simulations indicate that this "nuclear pasta" may be the strongest material in the universe, 10 billion times harder than steel. After briefly introducing the some of the properties of the exotic matter expected beneath the surface of a neutron star, and the QCD phase diagram, we will look at the nuclear pasta strength calculation, and speculate on what new physics may be uncovered in decades to come. The intention is to both become informed in an unfamiliar area of physics research to us, and have some fun.

Journal Articles:

https://compstar.uni-frankfurt.de/outreach/short-articles/the-nuclear-pasta-phase/

https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/nuclear-pasta-hardest-known-substance-universe-289729

https://phys.org/news/2018-09-simulation-nuclear-pasta-billion-harder.html

https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.132701

Speaker: Dr. Garth Huber, University of Regina