This $431,872 Project Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation's Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) program will support research at the University of Maryland, College Park to investigate key plasma physics processes responsible for the generation of coherent radio, X-ray, and TeV emission from pulsars. The principal investigator will lead a team to use advanced numerical simulations to study pair plasma discharges and magnetic reconnection, and how these fundamental processes contribute to the multi-wavelength emission observed from pulsars. The project will also involve undergraduate and graduate students, including those from underrepresented groups in STEM, through research opportunities and summer schools focused on compact object astrophysics. The research aims to produce quantitative models that can explain pulsar emission across the electromagnetic spectrum and make testable predictions for future space missions.
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