Thermodynamic Evolution of Rotating Neutron Stars
Research Advisor: Dr. Sachiko Tsuruta
Principal Research Assistant
Jan. 2005 - Dec. 2006

Dr. Tsuruta, world renowned for her work in neutron stars that spans over fifty years, mentored me in this project to research the effects of exotic particles in the thermodynamic evolution of neutron stars.  Working with her Japanese collaborators, I operated simulations that would calculate the luminosity of neutron over their lifetimes.  From these results, we could refine the physics of hyperons, pions, superfluids, and mass properties.

This graph, plotting luminosity versus time, shows how the neutron stars for four different masses cool throughout their lifetimes.  Also visible are the critical points where exotic particles effect the cooling.

To produce a graph like this would take about a week of running the simulations.  After producing several dozens of these graphs, I decided it was time for a change.  In an effort to improve the labs efficiency, I initiated an automation engineering project.  Using the Python language, I wrote a program to handle the input, output, and graphing routines of the simulation program.  Now, all that needs to be done is specify a handful of input variables and the masses to be tested.  What used to take a week can now be done in a matter of minutes.

The work I produced over several years led to several publications.  You can see them here.