18–21 Nov 2025
Stonehenge River Lodge
Africa/Johannesburg timezone

Kerr metric inside and out

19 Nov 2025, 12:00
20m
Stonehenge River Lodge

Stonehenge River Lodge

Kopjeskraal Rd, Parys, 9585

Speaker

Haidar Sheikhahmadi (Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM))

Description

The maximum mass of a neutron star is a fundamental issue in astrophysics, as it critically constrains the equation of state of ultra-dense matter. While the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff (TOV) limit provides a theoretical upper bound for non-rotating stars, most observed neutron stars are rotating. This talk examines how rapid rotation alters the maximum mass limit, pushing it beyond the classical TOV value. We will explore the theoretical challenges in modelling these stationary configurations and present a novel discussion on the consequences for the observed mass distribution of compact objects, particularly the mass gap between the most massive neutron stars and the least massive black holes.

Author

Haidar Sheikhahmadi (Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM))

Presentation materials

There are no materials yet.