Title: Die hard stars: EM and GW transients from pulsational-pair-instability
 

Abstract: Despite being an old idea, the destabilizing effect of pair-production on the evolution of the most massive stars has recently received a lot of attention. It is now possible to compute large grids of models varying physical assumptions to interpret the gravitational-wave detection of very massive black holes and peculiar transients detected in electromagnetic transient surveys. In this talk, I will describe in detail the internal dynamics of stellar cores going through pulsational mass loss driven by the pair-instability, with specific attention to potential electromagnetic observations. Furthermore, I will discuss the possible origin of recently detected black holes with masses in excess of about 45 Msun ,which should be "forbidden" by pair-instability supernovae. More specifically, I will discuss the challenges that stellar merger solutions to this problem face in terms of avoiding core-growth, mass loss during the post-merger evolution and at core-collapse, and finally in pairing with another black hole to merge with.

***HE seminar recordings***


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Topic: High Energy Astrophysics Seminar

Time: 13:00 (12:00 CET)

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https://huji.zoom.us/j/89109523146?pwd=Q1Z0b2xpTHRiZ1hla2RSRDViRmNwdz09

Meeting ID: 891 0952 3146

Passcode: 485033