High Energy Astrophysics Research

In compact objects (neutron stars and black holes), astronomy confronts fundamental physics. Neutron stars have central densities between 5 and 10 times the nuclear density. They are the strongest known magnets, with some magnetic fields reaching into the petaGauss range, exceeding the critical limit at which quantum-electrodynamics become inevitable. Black holes are the most compact objects known, and by their very nature represent gravity in the strong-field regime. The fundamental questions regarding compact objects are how they form, and how material behaves in their extreme gravitational, magnetic and radiation fields. The answers to these questions lie in the study of isolated and/or accreting neutron stars, black holes in binary systems, and energetic gamma ray bursts, all areas in which we are, and plan to be, very active.
 

People

The following are members of staff who are active in research in High Energy Astrophysics

Permanent members of Staff

Mat Page, Kinwah Wu, Ziri Younsi, Silvia Zane

Researchers

Paul Kuin

PhD Students

Kaye Li, Alice Matthews, Qin Han, Paul Lai, Ruth Kelly, Sinan Long, Wiktoria Tarnopolska

Resources:

Astrophysics Research:
Publications
Astrophysics Group Page
High Energy Astrophysics Missions

Connect with Astrophysics:
All Astrophysics News
MSSL Astrophysics Twitter
MSSL Astrophysics Blog

Head of Group:
Prof. Silvia Zane  
s.zane@ucl.ac.uk