Pulsars as probes of fundamental physics
by
Tsung-Dao Lee Institute/N6F-N601 - Meeting Room
Tsung-Dao Lee Institute
Host: Dong Lai
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Abstract:
Pulsars are powerful tools for studying fundamental physics and gravitational physics, such as testing general relativity and alternative theories, studying the properties of neutron star matter, and searching for gravitational waves from supermassive black hole binaries. In this talk, I will highlight the recent results on strong-field gravity tests with the Double Pulsar system PSR J0737-3039A/B using MeerKAT data, in particular on higher-order gravitational signal propagation effects and the prospects of constraining the neutron star equation of state. Then I will demonstrate the prospects of testing scalar-tensor gravity using PSR 2222-0137 and pulsar-black hole systems with the sensitivity of FAST. Finally, I will discuss the recent advances in nanohertz gravitational wave detection with pulsar timing arrays.
Biography:
Dr. Huanchen Hu is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy. She obtained her PhD from the University of Bonn in 2023 with the highest distinction (summa cum laude) and was awarded the 2024 Dissertation Prize of the German Physical Society. Her research centres on exploring fundamental physics through radio pulsars, including probing dense matter equation of state and testing theories of gravity with binary pulsars, and detecting nanohertz gravitational waves with pulsar timing arrays. She is a member of MeerKAT, SKAO, and EPTA/IPTA collaborations, which have garnered numerous accolades including the 2024 ICBS Frontiers of Science Award and 2023 & 2025 RAS Group Achievement Award.