Objectif I will use an innovative coupled approach to facilitate a paradigm shift in the use of neutron stars as a probe of high energy physics. The compactness, rapid rotation and large magnetic fields of neutron stars make them, along with black holes, the most extreme objects found in our Universe. Neutron stars are therefore formidable laboratories to study fundamental physics, as they allow us to probe regimes simply unavailable to Earth-based experiments. However, in spite of their potential utility, there are still a number of important outstanding questions in this field. Key amongst these are: What is the neutron star equation of state? How do neutron stars become the fastest rotating stellar objects in the Universe? How do millisecond pulsars affect their environment? Answering these questions has a broad multi-disciplinary impact, far beyond the field of neutron star research alone; however, at present our ability to answer these questions is limited by cherry picking individual objects for study. In this proposal I describe how I will move away from the biases inherent in the idiosyncratic nature of particular sources to a comprehensive population analysis, and specifically, how I will use a particular class of neutron star systems, known as “spider binaries”, to discover the most massive and the fastest spinning neutron stars that exist. Such extreme cases are of crucial importance for constraining the neutron star equation of state and thus determining the boundary for stellar mass black hole formation. This knowledge in turn can tell us about possible phase transitions of matter at high densities and provide observable quantities that can then be tested against Earth-based experiments, feeding back into high energy physics theories. I will achieve these goals through a transformational observational approach to finding new spider systems and drawing on innovative techniques from other fields to improve parameter estimation. Champ scientifique natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomystellar astronomyneutron starsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyastrophysicsblack holesnatural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physics Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Thème(s) ERC-2016-STG - ERC Starting Grant Appel à propositions ERC-2016-STG Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement ERC-STG - Starting Grant Institution d’accueil THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER Contribution nette de l'UE € 1 995 655,76 Adresse OXFORD ROAD M13 9PL Manchester Royaume-Uni Voir sur la carte Région North West (England) Greater Manchester Manchester Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 1 995 655,76 Bénéficiaires (1) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution nette de l'UE Tout développer Tout réduire THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER Royaume-Uni Contribution nette de l'UE € 1 995 655,76 Adresse OXFORD ROAD M13 9PL Manchester Voir sur la carte Région North West (England) Greater Manchester Manchester Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 1 995 655,76