Research in Gravitation Theory and Relativistic Astrophysics

University Of California-San Diego, La Jolla CA

Investigators

Abstract

The research supported by this award has impacts in a wide range of scientific areas that extend well beyond gravitational astrophysics. Studies on neutron-star physics could lead to more accurate methods of measuring the neutron-star equation of state, and this could have an important impact on nuclear physics in addition to relativistic astrophysics. The gravitational-wave searches could lead to the first detections of gravitational waves from the r-modes of rotating neutron stars. Such observations could provide a wealth of new information about the fundamental micro-physical processes operating in the high density cores of these stars. This work will also develop new methods for performing simulations of Einstein's equations on manifolds with arbitrary topologies. These methods could have impacts on cosmology and pure mathematics, in addition to fundamental gravitation theory. Some of this research will involve graduate students, and will therefore contribute to the development of the next generation of gravitational astrophysicists. The work supported by this grant will develop better mathematical methods for using observations of neutron stars and our understanding of strong gravitational fields to determine the neutron-star equation of state in a way that is free from any assumptions about the microphysics of neutron star matter. Other projects include searches in the publicly available LIGO data for gravitational waves emitted by the r-modes of rotating neutron stars and new research in numerical relativity that involves developing techniques for solving Einstein's equations on manifolds with arbitrary spatial topologies. These methods will be used to study a variety of problems, including an effort to explore the gravitational analog of the turbulent cascade seen in fluid systems and exploring cosmological models numerically to determine whether and how non-trivial topology could be recognized through observations. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.