Neutrons Star

Neutron stars are extremely dense, compact, and magnetized objects. Tiny on an astrophysical scale, with a diameter of just 25 km, they exhibit a wide range of phenomena produced by their extreme magnetospheres. A rapidly rotating neutron star emitting a radio beam akin to a cosmic lighthouse is called a pulsar, the first discovery of which dates back to 1967. Magnetars, with magnetic fields even more extreme than those of pulsars ( 10^11 teslas), have been linked to gamma-ray bursts (SGRs), and more recently, neutron stars are suspected to be responsible for fast radio bursts (FRBs).

We model the magnetosphere to understand the complex mechanisms behind the observed emissions. The aim is not only to reproduce observations but also to unravel the fundamental physics at play in these highly exotic environments that cannot be experimentally replicated. We also model interactions with potential orbital companions to test, among other things, gravitational theory using the pulsar timing technique. More recently, we are leveraging this expertise to seek explanations for the mystery of FRBs.