Public Lecture by Professor Tsvi Piran

Neutron Stars, Gravitational Waves and the Origin of Gold

A public lecture by Professor Tsvi Piran, Schwarzmann University Chair, Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University

In 1989 Professor Piran proposed that the mysterious gamma ray bursts that are seen daily by space gamma ray observatories were caused by the final coalescence of pairs of neutron stars, each one the size of a city and heavier than our Sun. In such events a vast amount of neutron rich matter would be thrown into space. This would undergo rapid fission like a vast atomic bomb, and in doing so would spread gold, platinum and other heavy atoms into space. On 17 August 2017 Professor Piran’s prediction was dramatically proved.   This talk will explain the science behind this recent discovery, its extraordinary significance, and how it has opened an era for a whole new type of astronomy called multi-messenger astronomy.

Tsvi Piran, PhD is Schwarzmann University Chair at the Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University. Professor Tsvi’s scientific fields of interest include relativistic astrophysics, cosmology, general relativity, high energy astrophysics, and space research.

He was the first to suggest that Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) herald the formation of newborn black holes. Later on he established the theory of GRB afterglows and of GRB jets. His extensive review papers are the standard literature on this subject.

Professor Tsvi is participating in the Australasian Conference of General Relativity and Gravitation being held at The University of Western Australia’s Gingin Gravity Precinct in November 2017.