Stars as Laboratories for Fundamental Physics

Basudeb Dasgupta (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research)

June 05, 2023

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Abstract: Stars host extreme conditions that are difficult to create in the lab, if not impossible altogether. These extreme conditions allow us to conduct important tests of fundamental physics and provide new ways to search for new particles. I will discuss some examples, e.g., fast neutrino oscillations that can occur inside supernovae, and a novel search for heavy dark matter using observations of neutron stars and/or black holes. In each case, we will see how improved knowledge of the astrophysical conditions paves the way for deeper probes of fundamental physics.