"Disk and Wind Accretion to Magnetized Neutron Stars" AST-9986936
Dr. Lovelace is performing 2- and 3-dimensional simulations of disk and wind accretion of material onto rotating magnetized stars and developing the associated analytic theory. The models apply to a range of astrophysical situations where accretion is occurring, such as binary star systems where there are inclined rotating stars, magnetized neutron stars, fast stellar winds. In addition, the effects of direct accretion, magnetic inhibition of accretion, viscosity, and the so-called 'propeller mechanism' are incorporated into the models and compared to observations. This project involves a strong collaboration with colleagues in Russia, via co-PI Romanova. Funding for this project was provided by the NSF program for Stellar Astronomy & Astrophysics (AST/SAA) and the NSF International Program for the Baltic States, Bulgaria, Poland, & Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (INT). ***
