THE MULTICOLORED LANDSCAPE OF COMPACT OBJECTS AND THEIR EXPLOSIVE ORIGINS: Cefalu 2006

International Conference on Multicolor Landscape of Compact Objects and Their Explosive Origins (Cefalu 2006)

Tiziana Di Salvo, University of Palermo, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Palermo, ITALY ; L. Angelo Antonelli, INAF-OAR, Astronomical Observatory of Rome, Monte Porzio Catone, ITALY ; Gian Luca Israel, INAF-OAR, Astronomical Observatory of Rome, Monte Porzio Catone, ITALY ; Luciano Piersanti, INAF, Astronomical Observatory of Teramo, Teramo, ITALY ; Luciano Burderi, University of Cagliari, Physics Department, Monserrato, Cagliari, ITALY ; Fabrizio Fiore, INAF-Astronomical Observatory of Rome, Monte Porzio Catone, Italy ; Giorgio Matt, University of Roma Tre, Physics Department, Rome, Italy ; Amedeo Tornambe, INAF-Astronimical Observatory of Rome, Monte Porzio Catone, Italy ; Maria Teresa Menna, INAF-Astronomical Observatory of Rome, Monte porzio Catone, Italy

Conference Location and Date: Cefalu, Sicily, 11-24 June 2006

Subseries: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Published September 2007; ISBN 978-0-7354-0434-2 Two Volume, Print; 976 pages; 6 3/8 X 9 1/4 inches; Hardcover; $249.00

Readership: Information published in these Proceedings books will be useful for researcher working in Astronomy and Astrophysics, mainly in the field of observational and theoretical studies of compact objects (such as super-massive and stellar mass black holes, highly and weakly magnetized neutron stars, and white dwarfs, isolated or in binary systems, Galactic or extra-galactic) and their progenitors or end points (such as Supernovae and Gamma-ray Bursts).

All papers have been peer-reviewed. These two Proceedings books contain the scientific discussions that more than one hundred scientists from all over the world had during a two-weeks conference held in Cefalù (in the beautiful island of Sicily, Italy) from 11 to 24 June 2006. Oral contributions and posters were presented at the conference dealing with the astrophysics of compact objects, such as super-massive and stellar mass black holes, highly and weakly magnetized neutron stars, and white dwarfs, both isolated and in binary systems, and of their progenitors or end-points, such as Supernovae and Gamma Ray Bursts. In particular, the meeting (and the following Proceedings books) is focused on several scientific areas that are briefly described in the following. The first volume starts with the discussion of the so-called GAMMA RAY BURSTS (GRBs), which are among the most violent explosions in the Universe, most probably related to the final stages of the life of a massive star and the formation of a black hole, or to the coalescence of two neutron stars in a close binary system. In particular, we discuss the global properties of long and short GRBs and of their Afterglows, the relation between GRBs and Cosmology, the connection to particular types of Supernovae, as well as present and future instrumentation. Then we discuss the so-called MAGNETAR CANDIDATES, which are neutron stars with very large magnetic fields (above 1013 Gauss) showing coherent X-ray pulsations. These are usually observed as Anomalous X-ray Pulsars or Soft Gamma Repeaters. This last class of objects shows sometimes very powerful soft gamma-ray outbursts from which a connection to the GRBs phenomenon has been proposed. The first volume ends with the discussion of the properties of SUPERNOVAE, which are connected to the GRBs and are often the progenitors of collapsed objects. In the second volume of the Proceedings we discuss the properties of PULSARS and millisecond pulsars. In particular, an update of the recently discovered double neutron star system is presented, were it is shown that with this system the theory of General Relativity has been tested with a precision of 0.05%, becoming the most precise physical theory to date. The discussion continues with the observational and theoretical properties of INTERACTING BINARIES containing white dwarfs, neutron stars or black hole candidates. Particular attention has been devoted to the physics of accretion, the connection between accretion disks and relativistic outflows and/or jets, secular evolution of X-ray Binaries, possible sources of Gravitational Radiation, and X-ray binaries in Globular Clusters and Other Galaxies, including the recently discovered Ultra-Luminous X-ray Sources. Finally, the volume ends with the discussion of ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI, thought to contain accreting Super-Massive Black Holes. In particular it discusses the physics of accretion and ejection, birth and growth of Super Massive Black Holes, and its connection with the host galaxy.

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