Armin – Doctoral researcher in Astrophysics

I got my Bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Tabriz in Iran. I’ve always been fascinated by starry nights and the endless universe so I decided to continue my studies and research in astrophysics. In this regard, I started a Master’s program at the Middle East Technical University which is one of the best international universities in Turkey. Soon after defending my Master’s thesis, I joined the High-Energy Astrophysics research group at UTU where I’ve had the chance to do research alongside notable scientists.

In my doctoral thesis, I study X-Ray Pulsars which are binary systems in which a highly-magnetized neutron star accretes matter from its companion star. The infalling matter onto the surface of the neutron star produces a huge amount of energy mostly in the form of X-rays. Using the X-ray data obtained by several space telescopes, I study these bright sources by performing spectral and timing analyses.

Neutron stars are small and compact objects with a radius of 10-12 kg and a mass of 1.4 solar masses possessing strong magnetic fields which are impossible to attain in our labs. Therefore, these objects are the finest natural laboratories to investigate the physics of matter under extreme conditions. As the most interesting part of the project, I measure the magnetic field strength of X-ray pulsars and study its evolution with X-ray luminosity.

Having spent more than 10 years in academia, I realized that the only thing that can quench my thirst for knowledge is an academic career. Being a researcher gives me the opportunity to explore and learn new things, which are my favorites. For now, I prefer to be in an educational environment dealing with other researchers and motivated students, however, I am open to other interesting job opportunities.