Colloquium Speaker: Tanmoy Lasker (University of Bath)

Speaker: Tanmoy Lasker (University of Bath)

Title: Extreme astrophysics with relativistic transients

Abstract: As the most energetic explosions in the Universe, relativistic astrophysical transients provide a unique opportunity to explore physics at extreme energy scales that are otherwise impossible to investigate in Earth-bound laboratories. I will demonstrate the power of multi-wavelength observations, combined with theoretical modelling, in teasing apart the physics of relativistic transients. Shining a special spotlight on radio wavelengths, I will describe how pushing the boundaries of observational efforts is leading to new insights into these extreme events. Today’s case studies will include: (i) probing high-redshift gamma-ray bursts in search for explosions from the first stars, (ii) exploring magnetized central engines in short-duration gamma-ray bursts, and (iii) investigating the composition of relativistic jets with ALMA. I will describe the multi-messenger revolution currently underway in time-domain astrophysics, and conclude with future prospects in this rapidly evolving, data-driven field.

Homepage: https://scholar.harvard.edu/laskar