A new study led by the University of Bath suggests that studying 'starquakes' – seismic events in stars – can provide valuable insights into the properties of neutron stars, the collapsed remnants of massive stars.
The research, published in Physical Review C, focuses on how asteroseismology, the study of stellar vibrations and flares, can be used to test predictions about nuclear matter.
By analyzing these quakes from Earth using powerful telescopes, scientists can gather detailed information about the interior of neutron stars. This data helps validate a theory called Chiral Effective Field Theory, which is crucial for understanding the universe and its fundamental building blocks.
The study highlights the potential of asteroseismology to bridge the gap between astronomy and nuclear physics, offering new avenues for exploring the properties of matter under extreme conditions.
The team, including Dr. David Tsang and Dr. Duncan Neill from the University of Bath, emphasizes the significance of these findings for advancing nuclear theory and its potential applications in fields such as health, security, and energy.