The Xtransients Extreme Phenomena In The High Energy Universe
2017.04.12 What are the most luminous explosions in space? What objects possess the strongest magnetic fields in nature?How can we hear the sirens of the Cosmos? In the last 30 years, High Energy and Gravitational Astrophysics have unveiled exciting new phenomena that address all these questions. Gamma-ray bursts are the brightest flashes in the gamma-ray sky, releasing in a few seconds as much energy as the Sun will release in its entire 10 billion year lifetime. Magnetars: young, slowly rotating neutron stars have been found to harbor the highest magnetic fields in the Universe. Gravitational Waves were detected in 2016 on Earth, emanating from the merger of two black holes. This lecture addresses these phenomena and explores how new missions can connect the dots between High Energy and Gravitational Astrophysics. Chryssa Kouveliotou Professor of Physics, George Washington University