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ABOUT US

The Simons Collaboration on Extreme Electrodynamics of Compact Sources (SCEECS) is a Simons Collaboration in Mathematics and the Physical Sciences commencing Sept 1, 2023.

 

The initial program is scheduled to run until August 31, 2027.

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Participating institutions are Caltech, Columbia University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Illinois State University, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Princeton University, Stanford University, Tel Aviv University, University of Arizona, University of Paris, University of Maryland, University of Texas, San Antonio,  University of Toronto, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Washington University at St Louis.

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Goals

  •  To explore extreme electrodynamics through neutron stars and black holes using theory, simulation, and observation

  •  To educate and foster a new and diverse generation of researchers with translatable skills and experience

  •  To connect with scientists working in related fields.

  •  To provide far-reaching public outreach

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The research program is organized around six organizing questions:

 

Neutron Stars

NS1: Plasmas in Neutron Star Magnetospheres (Led by Chris Thompson, Yajie Yuan)

“How does the magnetosphere outside a neutron star respond to electrodynamic processes operating on both microscopic (QED) and macroscopic scales?"

NS2: Neutron Star Interiors (Led by Yuri Levin, Matt Caplan, Katerina Chatziiannou)

“How do internal magnetic fields reaching 10^15 Gauss interact with flows of neutron-rich matter to stress the solid neutron star crust and trigger external electromagnetic activity?”

NS3: Observations of Neutron Stars (Led by Anatoly Spitkovsky and Ke Fang)

“How does our first-principles understanding of extreme electrodynamics explain the observational appearance of neutron stars?”

 

Black Holes

BH1: Disk and Jet Flows (Led by Ellen Zweibel,  Richard Anantua, Bart Ripperda)

“How do accretion flows magnetize black holes to form and collimate relativistic jets?”

BH2: Plasmas near Black Holes (Led by Amir Levinson, Sam Gralla)

“How do we test classical general relativity and confront new physics in the extreme plasma conditions near black holes?”

BH3: Dissipation in Jets (Led by Tsvi Piran, Lorenzo Sironi, Noémie Globus)

“How do relativistic jets dissipate power through extreme particle acceleration and become multi-messenger sources?”

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Organigram

Collaboration Director: Roger D. Blandford

Collaboration Deputy Director: Alexander (Sasha) Philippov

Collaboration Members:

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Computing

Much of our research program is prosecuted using sophisticated simulations that have to span a huge range of scales to connect microphysics to astronomical observation.  The required quantum, and classical kinetic approaches, fluid-based approaches, and phenomenology. Sasha Philippov coordinates our computing program.

 

Related Research

The research program has strong connections to several related fields including observational high-energy astrophysics, general relativity, gravitational radiation, experiments at advanced light sources, quantum electrodynamics, fusion plasma physics, and nuclear physics. Relationships to each of these fields are being actively developed.​

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Contact

Address: SCEECS, 452 Lomita Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-4085

Email:      simonsceecs@stanford.edu​​​

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