Project description
Research explores odd behaviour in neutron star accretion discs
Astrophysical accretion discs are rotating discs of gas and dust forming around massive objects like black holes and neutron stars. Despite their importance to high-energy sources, their structure and evolution with luminosity remain elusive. At high luminosities, current theories suggest instabilities causing cyclic disc disruption, but this has rarely been observed in black holes. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the DIANA project aims to study neutron star accretion discs near the Eddington limit. By combining X-ray polarisation with fast optical and infrared observations, researchers will directly link accretion flow variations to relativistic ejections. This will lead to the first 1D model for neutron star accretion instabilities, enhancing understanding of accretion discs.
Objective
Astrophusical accretion disks are the main engine of most of high energy sources. Although they have been studies for decades, we still do not know their exact structure and their evolution with luminosity. A clear example is at high luminosity, for which our best theory predicts the presence in all sources of an instability which leads to the cyclic disruption/rebuilding of the disk. However, from the observational point of view, we have observed only a handful of accreting black holes. My recent work has demonstrated that these instabilities can take place also in accreting neutron stars, opening a new way to study this still poorly understood process. The main objective of DIANA is to exploit the recent advancements in highly accreting binary systems to set the most stringent constrains on the evolution structure of the accretion disk around neutron stars near the Eddington limit. To achieve this, I will combine for the first time X-ray polarization measurements with fast O-IR observations. The synergy of these two groundbreaking techniques will allow me to link directly the variations of the accretion flow structure to the relativistic ejections observed in these systems. Building on these observational results I will develop the first 1-D model for accretion instabilities around accreting neutron stars. This will represent a significant advance in our understanding of accretion disks, as will allow us to compare the appearance in BH and NS, providing key constrains on the origin of instabilities, and informing future 3D global simulations.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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00136 ROMA
Italy
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