About Workshops

About Workshops

The eXtreme Gravity Institute (XGI) regular workshops in different locations around Montana. These meetings are workshops in the true sense of the word, where physicists and astronomers come together to learn from each other. The topics of the workshops cover many areas in extreme gravity astrophysics and vary from year to year.

eXtreme Matter meets eXtreme Gravity

Bozeman, Montana August 17-19, 2017

eXtreme Gravity Institute

Observations of astrophysical systems where gravity is extreme have the potential to shed light on some of the most profound questions in physics today: from the internal composition of neutron stars to whether Einstein's theory accurately describes the merger of two black holes. Several new instruments have either come on-line recently or will do so in the very near future. For example, in late 2015, aLigo came online and directly detected gravitational waves for the first time in history, while the Neutron Star Interior Composition ExploreR (NICER) will become operational in mid 2017. 

The XGI will host a workshop on August 17th, 18th, and 19th to discuss methods for constraining the properties of Neutron Stars and the dense-matter equation of state. Topics will include

  • Gravitational-wave observations of neutron star binaries and neutron-star/black-hole binaries, 
  • X-ray observations of millisecond pulsars and other neutron stars
  • Theoretical calculations of the dense-matter equation of state,
  • Analytical and numerical modeling of neutron star inspirals and mergers.

The meeting is being held immediately prior to the AAS HEAD meeting in Sun Valley, and participants may choose to drive between the meetings, or simply head a little south of Bozeman to view the total eclipse on the 21st of August. Bozeman is a beautiful mountain town a one-hour drive from the North entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The surrounding area offers great opportunities for hiking, fishing, white water rafting, and mountain biking.

Moderators and Primers

Like previous XGI workshops, the format will emphasize discussion and exchange of ideas over formal presentations. Each session will be organized around a science question, with a moderator and two discussion leaders. The moderators and primers for the workshop are listed in the workshop schedule.  

Workshop Schedule

A pdf with the detailed schedule of discussions and events

Workshop Directions

Directions to the MSU Alumni Foundation from the Element hotel in Bozeman

Workshop Participants

A list of the people who are coming from around the world to attend this workshop.

Registration (Free)

There is no registration fee, but please take the time to register so that we can get an accurate count of attendees.

Travel and Lodging

We have secured a block of rooms that participants of the workshop can reserve at a special rate. Please plan ahead and book your accommodation before July 17th, since the special rate is only guaranteed until then. Please click on the link above to find more information about lodging.

Bozeman Area Visitor Information

Previous Workshops

  • Inaugural eXtreme Gravity Workshop - 2016