Compact Stars Research Group
About Research Group
The research in our group focuses on the properties of white dwarfs, neutron stars, proto-neutron stars, and stellar mergers. This includes the effects of extremely large magnetic fields and the formation of exotic particles such as hyperons and deconfined quarks. Depending on how abruptly exotic matter appears inside compact stars, it can be associated with observational signals, which can give us insight into new phases of matter.
Group Members
Dr. Mateus Reinke Pelicer
Post Doctoral Research Associate
July 2023-Present
Email: mreinkep@kent.edu
Office Address: 207, Smith Hall
I work in nuclear physics and particle astrophysics, focusing on nuclear equations of state applied to dense matter. My research deals mainly with relativistic models, using them to study microscopic properties of neutron stars, such as transport in the inner crust, where the pasta phase lies, the quark-hadron deconfinement phase transition in the core, and the appearance of heavy baryons in magnetars and in hot proto-neutron stars. The microscopic properties of compact objects are important in the interpretation of observational signals, which in turn can give insight into the nuclear interaction.
Research Interests:
Nuclear Physics
Astrophysics
High Energy Physics
Hadron Physics
Collaboration: MUSES
Dr. Joaquin Grefa
I am a nuclear theorist who specializes in the study of hot and dense quark-gluon matter. In particular, I focus on the thermodynamic description of the collective behavior of strongly interacting matter under extreme conditions, namely the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP). My research goal is to obtain a Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) equation of state (EoS) at finite temperature and density by making use of effective models, such as the one provided by the AdS/CFT correspondence, commonly known as holography, that can be constrained by first principles lattice QCD results at zero density. A QCD EoS is extremely important to analyze phenomena ranging from heavy ion collisions to neutron stars.
Research Interests:
Nuclear Physics
Multi-Messenger Physics
High Energy Physics
Hadron Physics
Collaboration: MUSES , NP3M
Dr. Rajesh Kumar
Post Doctoral Research Associate
March 2022-Present
Email: rkumar6@kent.edu
Office Address: 207, Smith Hall
I am a nuclear theorist who specializes in the study of hot and dense quark-gluon matter. My doctoral work focused on the in-medium properties of hadrons under extreme conditions of temperature and density, within a model-dependent framework. With over seven years of experience, I have honed my skills in extensive calculations, model building, and computational and analytical assessments. My passion for astrophysics drives me to explore unsolved problems in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) phase transitions, compact stars, effective mean-field models, and finite temperature field theory, enabling me to uncover emerging new physics in the field. Beyond research, I aspire to contribute as a teacher, nurturing the next generation of researchers, and engage in science comm, making wonders of physics accessible to a wider audience.
Research Interests:
Nuclear Physics
Astrophysics
High Energy Physics
Multi-Messenger Physics
Hadron Physics
Krishna Aryal
As a theoretical nuclear and particle astrophysicist specializing in the study of dense and hot matter in compact stars, I am currently employed. Analyzing QCD phase diagrams, I am working on the phase transition from hadron to quark matter. The results obtained from these diagrams aid in comparing the position of the deconfinement phase transition between heavy-ion collision and hot astrophysical scenarios.
Research Interests:
Nuclear Physics
Astrophysics
High Energy Physics
Hadron Physics
Email: karyal@kent.edu
My current research involves creating hybrid equations of state for neutron stars with either first-order phase transitions or a mixed phase. I am working on using some of my EoS in neutron star merger simulations through the NP3M collaboration.
Research Interests:
Nuclear Physics
Astrophysics
Email: acleving@kent.edu
Office Address: 206 A, Smith Hall
Yuhan Wang
My current research involves the study of the first-order QCD phase transitions in the heavy-ion and neutron star matter using an effective mean-field model.
Research Interests:
Nuclear Physics
Astrophysics
High Energy Physics
Hadron Physics
Email: ywang156@kent.edu
I work to study the physics of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and heavy ion equations of state at finite temperature and magnetic field.
Research Interests:
Nuclear Physics
Astrophysics
High Energy Physics
Multi-Messenger Physics
Hadron Physics
Email: jpeter46@kent.edu
Collaboration: MUSES