High-Energy Astrophysics of neutron stars: Puzzles, Results, and Prospects

Abstract

Neutron stars are objects so extreme that for decades they were considered only a theoretical curiosity. Since the birth of modern high-energy astrophysics, however, we have the tools to study these exotic systems in great detail, giving us a window into some of nature's most powerful cosmic laboratories. Modern satellites and particle detectors enable us to collect information on the highest energy photons, allowing us to probe gravitational and magnetic environments well beyond the reach of our Earth-bound laboratories. In this presentation I will review some of the puzzles and open questions surrounding this field of research, along with some major results and successes of recent years. Finally, I will provide a personal perspective on the prospects for future progress