Troy University’s Center for Relativity and Cosmology will host University of Tübingen physicist Dr. Christian Krüger on Oct. 3 for a lecture on fundamental physics and neutron stars.

The Center for Relativity and Cosmology was established in early 2024 as a way to reintroduce physics research to TROY students.

“Everyone loves physics, but no one wants to study physics,” said Dr. Govind Menon, Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Our students have done incredibly well. They’ve gone on to Georgia Tech, Berkley, Cambridge—these are the levels of students we produce. Not everyone is ready to tackle physics, but now we have this very strong Center for Relativity and Cosmology. It’s new, but has already been recognized by larger institutions.”

Dr. Rakshak Adhikari, Assistant Professor, said the Center has been hosting online seminars for the past three semesters. Fifteen speakers from around the world, including India, Germany, Poland, Norway, Egypt, Spain, Ireland and Denmark, gave presentations, and eight speakers have already been scheduled for this semester. 

Dr. Christian Krüger is a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Tübingen’s Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics in Germany. His presentation on Oct. 3 is titled “How to learn about fundamental physics from fast rotating neutron stars: spectra, stability and universal relations.”

“Neutron stars are critical to our understanding of the cosmos, offering insights into extreme physics that cannot be replicated on Earth,” said Dr. Yafet Sanchez, Lecturer in the Chemistry and Physics Department. “Their study deepens our knowledge of gravitational waves, nuclear matter and the lifecycle of stars. By hosting this visit, the Center demonstrates its commitment to interdisciplinary science, strengthens collaborations among researchers and promotes state of the art research.”

Researchers from the University of Waterloo, Vanderbilt and the University of Arizona have already presented. Looking forward, TROY is set to welcome more guests from the University of Iceland, Federal University of ABC, Jagiellonian University and the International School for Advanced Studies.

The Center offers classes in astrophysics, relativity, mathematics and mathematical physics. More information and a schedule of events can be found here.

Krüger’s presentation will begin at 11 a.m. in Room 114 of McCall Hall (MSCX).