Neutron stars are poised to become precision tools for nuclear and particle physics. In the era of multi-messenger astronomy, observations of gravitational waves, electromagnetic radiation, and neutrinos from neutron stars are transforming our understanding of matter under extreme conditions. In the first part of this talk, I will explore how radio and x-ray observations of neutron stars in our galaxy, and gravitational waves from neutron star mergers from the universe can illuminate the QCD phase diagram at low temperatures and high baryon densities, a regime inaccessible to terrestrial experiments. We'll discuss how multi-messenger data constrain the equation of state and hint at potential phase transitions deep within neutron star cores.
In the second part, I’ll shift focus to the role of QCD axions—hypothetical particles motivated by the strong CP problem. I will present recent theoretical developments suggesting that axions may condense inside neutron stars. We'll consider how such axion condensates could alter observable properties of these stars and point toward new physics beyond the Standard Model. Together, these threads weave a picture of neutron stars not just as endpoints of stellar evolution, but as cosmic laboratories for nuclear and particle physics.
Zoom Link: https://icts-res-in.zoom.us/j/99349034973?pwd=omSVjV5WHs3h5sMM3z7zQ5ZUc0Kna7.1
Meeting ID: 993 4903 4973
Passcode: 900539