Physics Colloquium / Prof. Michael Kramer: The hum of space-time - A new window on Einstein's universe

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Abstract: Pulsars, the natural beacons of the universe, put physics to extreme test. As neutron stars, they are not only the densest objects in the observable universe, but they also serve as high-precision laboratories for testing the general theory of relativity. Pulsars not only allow the observation of predicted effects that cannot be observed by other methods, but they provide also extremely precise tests of the properties of gravitational waves. The latest results even use pulsars as galactic gravitational wave detectors, which detect a continuous "hum" of space-time. This buzz is, most likely, caused by the merging of supermassive black holes in the early universe. The talk gives an overview of the fascination of Einstein's universe and how it can be explored with the help of pulsars.

Short bio: Michael Kramer graduated Physics in Cologne and Bonn, and obtained a PhD at the University of Bonn in 1995. He was a staff astronomer at MPIfR (1996-1998), a Max-Planck Otto-Hahn fellow at the University of California at Berkeley (1998-1999), Lecturer (1999-2003), Senior Lecturer (2003- 2005), Reader (2005-2006) and since 2006 Professor at the University of Manchester. From 2007 to 2009 he was Associate Director of Jodrell Bank Observatory before being appointed as Director at the MPIfR in Bonn in 2009. He won a number of awards, was a member of the ERC Scientific Council, President of the German Astronomical Society, and is a founding member of the DZA.