Shrinivas R. Kulkarni

I am an observer and experimentalist with interests in two areas of astronomy: the study of compact objects (neutron stars and black holes) and the search for other planets. Astronomers now believe that massive stars die violently in supernova explosions, leaving a neutron star or a black hole. However, there is huge diversity in the resulting objects. The extreme astronomical conditions associated with these objects -- highest energy, strongest magnetic field, rapid rotation -- make them attractive as natural laboratories to probe extreme physics. Planets around other stars and alien life forms has fascinated all cultures over the ages. We are now in a position to experimentally address the first question. I am involved efforts to search and study extra-solar planets via spatial interferometry.