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Fundamental Physics Using Black Widow, Redback and Transitional Pulsar Binaries

Objective

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.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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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.

ERC-STG - Starting Grant

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2016-STG

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Host institution

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 995 655,76
Address
OXFORD ROAD
M13 9PL Manchester
United Kingdom

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Region
North West (England) Greater Manchester Manchester
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 995 655,76

Beneficiaries (1)

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