Pulsars
This working group addresses fundamental physics through the study of pulsars and gravitational waves.
Pulsars Working Group Introduction
The SKA Science Working Group on Fundamental Physics with Pulsars aims to ensure that the SKA will address some of the major unsolved problems of modern physics by tackling fundamental questions in ways that cannot be matched by any other experiment:
- Is General Relativity the ultimate theory of gravitation and, if not, what theory will replace it?
- What is the equation of state of matter beyond nuclear densities?
- How do super-massive black hole binary systems merge?

Related 2015 “Advancing Astrophysics with the Square Kilometre Array” Chapters
- See appropriate section here
Related 2004 “Science with the Square Kilometre Array” Chapters
- “Strong field test of gravity using pulsars and black holes” Kramer et al.
- “Pulsars as tools for fundamental physics and astrophysics” Cordes et al.
Working Group Membership
Members of the the Pulsars Science Working group can be found here
Please contact the co-chairs if you are interested in joining the group.
The current co-chairs are:
- Aris Karastergiou (Oxford University, UK), aris.karastergiou@physics.ox.ac.uk
- Natalia Lewandowska (Green Bank Observatory, USA), nlewando@nrao.edu
Membership details can be found here
Previous Chairs
- Gemma Janssen 2021-
- Willem van Straten 2021-
- Ingrid Stairs 2016-2018
- Andrea Possenti 2015-2017
- Ben Stappers 2013-2016
- Michael Kramer 2013-2015
Last modified on 14 November 2022