Series: Physics Astronomy Colloquium
Date: Tuesday 25-Feb-2020
Time: 16:00-17:00 (4:00-5:00 pm)
Location: PSC Lobby
Speaker: Dr. Dmitri A. Udensky (Unversity of Colorado Boulder)
Title: Extreme Plasma Astrophysics: a New Frontier”
Bright, rapid high-energy flares and other spectacular phenomena are powered by collective plasma processes near neutron stars (NSs) and black holes (BHs), including in multi-messenger sources like gravitational-wave-emitting NS mergers and PeV-neutrino-producing blazars. While our understanding of these processes has been informed by traditional (e.g., space or fusion) plasma research, the physical conditions in plasmas around BHs and NSs are so extreme that traditional intuition often fails and a richer physical framework is required. Extreme astrophysical plasmas are relativistic, interact with radiation, and may be subject to QED pair-production effects. Studying collective plasma processes with these “exotic” effects constitutes the realm of Extreme Plasma Astrophysics. Rapid progress in exploring this new frontier is now being made thanks to concerted, vigorous theoretical efforts and computational breakthroughs due to the advent of novel first-principles relativistic kinetic plasma codes incorporating radiation and QED pair creation. Laser plasma experiments may soon also contribute to this revolution. I will describe these exciting developments, illustrating them with our recent kinetic studies of relativistic magnetic reconnection in NS magnetospheres and accreting BH coronae with radiation and pair-creation effects, and of radiative relativistic turbulence. I will end by outlining the future prospects of this vibrant Extreme Plasma Astrophysics research program.
Colloquia are usually preceded by espresso and ice cream at 1:45 pm outside room PSC 1150 and are followed by an informal reception at 5:15 pm in that room. Anyone interested in talking with the speaker, or being added to the colloquium announcement email list, should contact the colloquium organizer. Lunch will normally be reserved for the speaker to talk to graduate students. Anyone asking a question during a talk is asked to raise their hand and be acknowledged before speaking.
Colloquium Organizer:
Prof. Richard Mushotzy
Special accommodations for individuals with disabilities can be made by calling (301) 405-3001. It would be appreciated if we are notified at least one week in advance.
