Plasma processes – Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics The Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics is a nationally supported research centre located at the University of Toronto that is devoted to studying the origin and evolution of the universe, and the many wonderful phenomena revealed by modern astronomy. Thu, 24 Sep 2026 02:41:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.10 Extreme Plasma Processes Around Compact Objects /extreme-plasma-processes-around-compact-objects/ Wed, 16 Apr 2025 16:28:25 +0000 /?post_type=portfolio&p=14194

Extreme Plasma Processes Around Compact Objects

Jens Mahlmann (Dartmouth College) — March 24, 2025

Abstract

In this talk, I will discuss how stars with extremely strong magnetic fields generate some of the most powerful events in space—including X-ray transients and fast radio bursts (FRBs). Through advanced computer simulations, we model magnetic energy dissipation and radiative reactions in the extreme environments of magnetars and binary neutron stars with unprecedented realism. This approach helps us identify key system characteristics for the first time, including magnetic field structures and first principles photon spectra that directly connect to X-ray observations.

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