Extraordinary Physics with Millisecond Pulsars - Scott Ransom

Explore the fascinating world of millisecond pulsars in this Joint IAS/PU Astrophysics Colloquium talk by Scott Ransom from NRAO. Delve into the extraordinary physics of these exotic objects, their detection methods, and their significant contributions to astrophysics. Learn about the recent doubling of known millisecond pulsars and the specialized "timing" observations that have led to groundbreaking results in basic physics. Discover how these remarkable systems are being used to directly detect gravitational waves from super-massive black hole binaries, conduct strong-field tests of general relativity, and investigate the nature of the densest form of matter in the universe. Gain insights into pulsar timing, timing residuals, and the first indirect detection of gravitational waves. Explore the work of NanoGrav, data analysis techniques, and the challenges of improving instruments and finding new pulsars. Examine the implications of triple systems, pulse delays, and three-body effects on our understanding of physics. Look ahead to the future of pulsar research, including the potential of China's 500m spherical telescope and the Square Kilometre Array.