Kaustubh Rajwade (University of Oxford)

Over the past two decades, wide-field radio surveys conducted with SKAO precursor facilities such as ASKAP, MeerKAT, and LOFAR have transformed our understanding of fast radio transients — millisecond to minute-duration bursts produced by some of the most extreme objects in the Universe. Among these are radio neutron stars and white dwarfs: pulsars, magnetars, rotating radio transients, and recently discovered long-period radio emitters that challenge traditional models of coherent radio emission.

In this talk, I will review how SKA precursor instruments have enabled systematic exploration of this diverse population and revealed intriguing connections between previously distinct sub-classes of radio neutron stars. The emerging picture suggests a continuum of behaviours, from classical pulsars to highly magnetised neutron stars (magnetars), with long-period transients occupying a newly recognised parameter space. I will discuss how these discoveries inform our understanding of radio emission from compact objects.

I will also discuss the recently discovered phenomenon of fast radio bursts (FRBs), which have opened a new frontier in high-energy astrophysics. By localising FRBs to distant galaxies and measuring their dispersion through intergalactic plasma, SKA precursors have demonstrated their power as cosmological probes — offering a novel means of tracing baryonic matter and studying the large-scale structure of the Universe.

Together, these advances illustrate how next-generation radio surveys are reshaping our view of compact objects and transforming fast radio transients from rare curiosities into precision tools for astrophysics and cosmology.

Please join us to share in a celebration seminar in honor of Dr. Demos Kazanas, following his retirement from NASA after 37 years of distinguished service.

The purpose of this event is to bring together colleagues, collaborators, and friends to recognize Demos’s long scientific career, his work across several areas of astrophysics, and his lasting presence in the Goddard scientific community. The program will include invited talks reflecting different aspects of his science, collaborations, mentorship, and legacy, along with time for shorter informal contributions from others who may wish to share a few words.