International four-day conference on neutron stars and gravitational waves commences at YSU

Held biennially, the "Modern Physics of Compact Stars and Relativistic Gravity" conference is co-organized by the Chair of Theoretical and Mathematical Physics at YSU Faculty of Physics and the University of Frankfurt.

Now in its eighth edition, the conference welcomes prominent scientists from across the globe to discuss current challenges and developments in the study of neutron stars, ultra-dense stars, relativistic gravity, and related fields.

Speaking about the conference, Professor Aram Saharyan—Chair of the Organizing Committee, Head of the Chair of Theoretical Physics named after Academician Gurgen Sahakyan at YSU Faculty of Physics—emphasized the importance of such an event for both established scientists and emerging researchers, providing a platform to stay informed about the latest developments and research in the field.

"In recent years, significant discoveries have been made in the study of ultra-dense stars, fundamentally reshaping existing scientific perspectives. Notably, observations have revealed neutron stars with unexpectedly high mass. The scientific community is now questioning whether certain theories need to be revised to align with observational data. Furthermore, gravitational waves—first theoretically predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916—have been detected, marking another major milestone," said Aram Saharyan, stressing that these new discoveries demand further scientific explanation.

According to the professor, YSU has played a foundational role in the development of ultra-dense stars physics. Renowned astronomers and academicians Gurgen Sahakyan and Viktor Hambardzumyan carried out their most significant research here, and today their scientific tradition continues to be upheld to this day. 

Reflecting on the anticipated outcomes of the conference, Aram Saharyan highlighted the significance of involving young researchers.

"Among the participants are also master’s students, which increases their motivation and provides them with an opportunity to engage more closely with the latest research directions in the field. Such platforms foster collaboration, encourage open discussion and analysis of a wide range of scientific topics, and often give rise to new research directions," he added.

Co-organizer of the conference, Professor Armen Sedrakyan from the University of Frankfurt, noted that the conference series began in 2008. He presented an overview of astrophysicist Viktor Hambardzumyan’s scientific contributions, displaying archival photographs and highlighting that one of the previous conferences in the series was dedicated to Hambardzumyan’s centennial. He also announced that the scientific papers presented at the conference would be published in one of MDPI’s high-impact international journals. 

The conference will feature the presentation of latest research findings from both theoretical and observational perspectives. Specialized presentations will address topics such as the physics of neutron and ultra-dense stars, relativistic gravity, the study of gravitational waves, and alternative theoretical models. In addition to academic sessions, participants will have the opportunity to visit historical and cultural sites across Armenia.

The organization of YSU-hosted conference has been supported by Yerevan State University, the Higher Education and Science Committee of MoESCS RA, the Extreme Matter Institute (EMMI), and the MDPI journals Symmetry and Particles.

The 2023 edition of the conference was dedicated to the 110th anniversary of Academician Gurgen Sahakyan, a prominent theoretical physicist, astronomer, and distinguished figure in science.