Theory Seminar November 13 Dr. Andrew W. Steiner (hosted by Alford) Michigan State University Elucidating the Properties of Dense Matter from Starquakes in Neutron Star Crusts The recent observation of quasi-periodic oscillations in giant flares produced in highly magnetized neutron stars offers a unique opportunity to constrain the properties of the neutron star crust. The frequencies, some of which are thought to be normal modes of oscillation of the neutron star crust, can be measured to few percent accuracy. I will show that the normal mode frequencies are quite sensitive to the nuclear physics aspects of the crust, in particular, to the nuclear symmetry energy. This promises to be an important constraint on the nuclear symmetry energy which is complementary to the measurement of the symmetry energy through neutron star radius measurements, determinations from heavy-ion collisions and measurements of the neutron skin thickness in lead at Jefferson Lab. Coffee: 2:30 PM, 241 Compton         Lecture: 3:00 PM, 241 Compton