Speaker: Prof. Ersin Göğüş  (Sabanci University, Turkey)

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Title: The Strongest Magnets in the Milky Way and Beyond

Abstract: Magnetars are isolated neutron stars that possess the strongest magnetic fields in the Universe. The most striking characteristic of magnetars is their emission of energetic bursts -- brief events lasting only a fraction of a second yet typically releasing energies exceeding 10^40 erg. On rare occasions, magnetars produce giant flares, which exhibit distinctive morphologies and release energy reaching or even surpassing 10^44 erg.

This talk will provide an overview of magnetar bursts detected mostly with the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor on board Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, with a particular focus on a prolific magnetar: SGR J1935+2154. This magnetar has emitted short radio bursts, including the first ever Galactic fast radio burst (FRB). There will also be a review of recent observations of magnetar giant flares from nearby galaxies.