Abstract: Astrophysical compact objects, neutron stars and black holes, are powerful sources of broad-band non-thermal electromagnetic emission, including coherent radio and high-energy radiation. The collective behavior of plasmas that produce these emission signatures is still poorly understood. In this talk I will describe a few examples of modeling the observed light coming from these remarkable objects using first-principles numerical simulations. First, I will describe recent progress in understanding the multi-wavelength pulsar emission mechanism, including the long-standing problem of the generation of coherent radio waves. Second, I will discuss how accretion flows around supermassive black holes, such as SgrA* and M87* recently imaged by the Event Horizon Telescope, can produce powerful electromagnetic flares. 

Hosted by Yi-Hsin Liu