Purdue Physics Colloquium

Professional Experience:

Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Purdue University, 2000-present
Research Scientist, Center for Space Research, MIT, 1994-2000
Research Associate, Department of Physics,University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1994-1994
Research Assistant, Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1990-1994
Teaching Assistant, Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1989-1990
Research Assistant, Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1988-1989
Teaching Assistant, Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1987-1988

Honors and Awards:

NASA Group Award for the development, fabrication, and launch of the first X-ray microcalorimeter experiment (1998)
NASA Group Award for the successful integration and test of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (1996)
CUSPEA finalist (1986)

Professional Services:

Referee, Astrophysical Journal, Astronomy & Astrophysics Journal, and Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Reviewer, NASA's Guest Observing programs for various missions

Professional Affiliations:

	General Colloquium February 1 - 4:00pm Phys 223 (Coffee at 3:30p.m. in room 242) Prof. Wei Cui Physics Department Purdue University Title: "Tunes" from Neutron Stars: What Do They Mean?
Abstract: I will review the recent discovery of quasi-periodic signals from X-ray binaries that contain a neutron star. The signals manifest themselves observationally in the modulation of the X-ray intensity of a source in a frequency range of a few hundred to a thousand Hertz. These kilo-Hertz quasi-periodic oscillations (now commonly referred to as ``kHz QPOs'') are thought to originate from dynamical processes in the immediate vicinity of the neutron star, where general relativistic effects are expected to be strong and might become observable. I will briefly discuss several models proposed to explain the phenomenon and present observational evidence for the relativistic effects at work, in the context of the models. I will argue that although our understanding of the phenomenon is still rather incomplete at present we seem to be on the right track. Furthermore, I will show that the results have serious implications on the properties of neutron stars, more specifically, on the equation of state of such systems. Bio: *Education:* Ph.D., Experimental Astrophysics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1994 M.S., Computational Condensed Matter Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1989 B.S., Experimental Condensed Matter Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, 1987 *Professional Experience:* Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Purdue University, 2000-present Research Scientist, Center for Space Research, MIT, 1994-2000 Research Associate, Department of Physics,University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1994-1994 Research Assistant, Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1990-1994 Teaching Assistant, Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1989-1990 Research Assistant, Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1988-1989 Teaching Assistant, Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1987-1988 *Honors and Awards:* NASA Group Award for the development, fabrication, and launch of the first X-ray microcalorimeter experiment (1998) NASA Group Award for the successful integration and test of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (1996) CUSPEA finalist (1986) *Professional Services:* Referee, Astrophysical Journal, Astronomy & Astrophysics Journal, and Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Reviewer, NASA's Guest Observing programs for various missions *Professional Affiliations:* American Astronomical Society High Energy Astrophysics Division