Symmetries in Compact Stars and Advances in Gravitational Waves—Commemorating 50 Years of the Hulse-Taylor Pulsar

Dear Colleagues,

Fifty years ago, Russell A. Hulse and Joseph H. Taylor discovered the first binary pulsar, PSR B1913+16, which enabled precision tests of gravity in strong-field regimes and provided the first evidence of gravitational waves. This groundbreaking discovery also enhanced our knowledge of possible evolution scenarios of binary systems, and initiated precise mass measurement of neutron stars, shedding light on the behaviour of matter under extreme conditions. Since then, pulsars and other compact stars have become essential tools for exploring fundamental physics that would otherwise remain inaccessible. As a cornerstone of modern physics, the concept of symmetry plays a pivotal role in understanding fundamental interactions. Compact stars, such as neutron stars and black holes, serve as ideal laboratories for studying the symmetries of gravitation and particle physics due to their extreme physical conditions.

Nowadays, gravitational wave astronomy has become one of the most active research fields, involving detectors ranging from terrestrial (LIGO, Virgo, KAGRA, ET, CE, etc.) to space (LISA, Taiji, Tianqin, DECIGO, etc.), and even galactic-scale Pulsar Timing Arrays. These studies offer invaluable insights into gravity, the properties of compact stars, stellar and galaxy evolution, as well as cosmology, dark matter and the early universe.

On the occasion of 50 years of the Hulse–Taylor pulsar, this Special Issue aims to gather contributions exploring symmetries in compact stars and recent advances in gravitational wave astronomy. We wish to invite both original and review papers along these lines for this Special Issue.

Dr. Huanchen Hu
Dr. Kristen Lackeos
Dr. Lijing Shao
Guest Editors

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