2026 Simons Collaboration on Extreme Electrodynamics of Compact Sources Annual Meeting

Roger Blandford
Stanford University

Simons Collaboration on Extreme Electrodynamics of Compact Sources – Progress

In its first two and a half years, the SCEECS collaboration has addressed the exciting discoveries being made from observations of black holes and neutron stars, involving magnetic fields of ~ 10^15 G, voltages up to 10^23 V, powers up to 10^49 W and effective temperature of more than 10^40 K which has taken classical electromagnetism and quantum electrodynamics into new territory. We have developed new theoretical approaches that address questions of fundamental physics and make phenomenological contact with models of specific sources, often involving state-of-the-art simulations. These methods are also relevant to upcoming laboratory experiments.
 

Yuri Levin
Columbia University

Exotic Dynamics of Neutron Star Interiors

Quantum fluids, crystal lattice, magnetic fields, and conducting electrons are strongly coupled inside a neutron star. Their coupling to the exterior, the neutron star magnetosphere, leads to observable consequences. This talk will highlight giant Hall waves triggered by superconducting transition in the neutron star core, dynamics of the superfluid vortices and of the crystal lattice in the inner crust, Landau quantization of the electron states, and magnetically driven baryonic eruptions.
 

Amir Levinson
Tel Aviv University

Physics of Fast Radio Bursts

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are extremely short, intense flashes of radio waves originating at extragalactic distances. They exhibit a wide range of unusual properties, offering a unique opportunity to probe plasma physics in regimes that have not been previously explored. There is compelling evidence that at least some FRBs originate from magnetars, likely triggered by the sudden release of magnetic stresses. In this talk, recent progress and future challenges in modeling the generation and propagation of FRBs and connecting to upcoming stunning observations will be summarized.
 

Sasha Philippov
University of Maryland

Simons Collaboration on Extreme Electrodynamics of Compact Sources – Future Program

The second half of the decade promises spectacular advances in the extreme astrophysics of compact objects, among which are precise localizations of multiple fast radio bursts and detection of their potential high-energy counterparts, major progress in constraining the equation of state of dense nuclear matter, and detections of ultra-high-energy nuclei, photons, and neutrinos. Multiple competing paradigms have been proposed to explain these phenomena. The goal of the SCEECS collaboration is to explore the underlying fundamental physical processes, especially using powerful simulations, enabling decisive discrimination among competing models through observations. This talk will outline our future research program, structured around four principal physics themes: (1) emission mechanisms, (2) extreme magnetic fields, (3) magnetized plasma flows, and (4) particle acceleration, as well as our new organization and our educational program.
 

Tsvi Piran
Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Understanding Black Holes

Although nothing can escape from cosmic black holes, the power the universe’s most luminous phenomena through accretion and rotational energy, mediated by electromagnetic and general relativistic effects. Multi-messenger observations involving photons, gravitational-waves, neutrinos, and cosmic rays have recently enabled us to probe their properties, especially close to the event horizon. I will present the advances in modeling these processes from the SCEECS collaboration toward understanding the behavior of black holes.
 

Chris Thompson
University of Toronto

Magnetars

Magnetars are young neutron stars with extreme, super-Schwinger, magnetic fields, ~10^(15)G. They are sources of soft gamma-ray and fast radio bursts. Electric currents circulating in their magnetospheres drive a bright flux of X-rays that carries the imprint of QED interactions. Much has been learned about plasma physics in these exotic environments, as well as using them as tests of physics beyond the standard model, e.g., light axions. This talk will highlight recent advances in modeling energy release and observable implications for pulsed and bursting X-ray and radio sources.
 

Anatoly Spitkovsky
Princeton University

Particle Acceleration in Extreme Environments

Energetic particles, with energies up to 3 x 10^20 eV, are observed through electromagnetic and multimessenger observations of compact sources. The ubiquity of power law spectra in observed sources suggests that particle acceleration is often a self-correcting process where the feedback of accelerated particles on the environment is important for the mechanism to work. This talk will review the status and plans for understanding particle acceleration in different conditions, emphasizing recent progress on simulating multiscale feedback in shocks, reconnection, and turbulence.
 

Ellen Zweibel
University of Wisconsin — Madison

Magnetized Flow around Black Holes

The gas that flows onto black holes through accretion disks and coronas and away from them as relativistic jets and winds is inevitably magnetized. This magnetic field is central to the large-scale dynamics of the flow and the microphysical processes responsible for what is observed. The regeneration of magnetic field through novel dynamo processes involving magnetic helicity transport and its decay through particle acceleration and dissipation will be described. A rich variety of mechanisms is needed to accommodate the diversity of the sources.

Participation in the meeting falls into the following four categories. An individual’s participation category is communicated via their letter of invitation.

The Simons Foundation will never ask for credit card information or require payment for registration to our events.

Group A – PIs, Speakers & Organizers

Individuals in Group A receive travel and hotel coordination within the following parameters:

Travel
Economy Class: For flights that are three hours or less to your destination, the maximum allowable class of service is Economy class.
Premium Economy Class: For flights where the total air travel time (excluding connection time) is more than three hours and less than seven hours per segment to your destination, the maximum allowable class of service is premium economy.
Business Class: When traveling internationally (or to Hawaii/Alaska) travelers are permitted to travel in Business Class on those segments that are seven hours or more. If the routing is over budget, a premium economy or mixed-class ticket will be booked.

Hotel
Up to 3 nights at the conference hotel, arriving on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, and departing on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

Group B – Funded Participants

Individuals in Group B receive travel and hotel coordination within the following parameters:

Travel
Economy class travel will be booked regardless of flight length.

Hotel
Up to 3 nights at the conference hotel, arriving on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, and departing on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

Group C – Unfunded Participants

Individuals in Group C will not receive financial support but are encouraged to enjoy all conference-hosted meals.

Group D – Remote Participants

Individuals in Group D will participate in the meeting remotely.

Air and Rail

For funded individuals, the foundation will arrange and pay for round-trip travel from their home city to the conference city. All travel and hotel arrangements must be booked through the Simons Foundation’s preferred travel agency.

Travel Deviations

The following travel specifications are considered deviations and will only be accommodated if the cost is less than or equal to the amount the Simons Foundation would pay for a standard round-trip ticket from your home city to the conference city:

• Preferred airline
• Preferred travel class
• Specific flights/flight times
• Travel dates outside those associated with the conference
• Arriving or departing from an airport other than your home city or conference city airports, i.e. multi-segment or triangle trips.

All deviations must be reviewed and approved by the Simons Foundation and, if the cost is more than what would normally be paid, a reimbursement quote must be obtained through the foundation’s travel agency before proceeding to booking and paying for travel out of pocket. All reimbursements for travel booked directly will be paid after the conclusion of the meeting.

Changes After Ticketing

All costs related to changes made to ticketed travel are to be paid for by the participant and are not reimbursable. Please contact the foundation’s travel agency for further assistance.

Personal & Rental Cars

Personal car and rental trips over 250 miles each way require prior approval from the Simons Foundation via email.

Rental cars must be pre-approved by the Simons Foundation.

The Royalton Park Avenue offers valet parking. Please note there are no in-and-out privileges when using the hotel’s garage, therefore it is encouraged that participants walk or take public transportation to the Simons Foundation.

Hotel

Funded individuals who require hotel accommodations are hosted by the foundation for a maximum of 3 nights at the conference hotel, arriving on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 and departing on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

Any additional nights are at the attendee’s own expense. To arrange accommodations, please register at the link included in your invitation.

Royalton Park Avenue
420 Park Ave S.
New York, NY 10016
https://www.royaltonparkavenue.com/

For driving directions to the Royalton Park Avenue, please click here.

Overview

In-person participants will be reimbursed for meals and local expenses including ground transportation. Expenses should be submitted through the foundation’s online expense reimbursement platform after the meeting’s conclusion.

Expenses accrued because of meetings not directly related to the Simons Foundation-hosted meeting (a satellite meeting or meeting held at another institution, for example) will not be reimbursed by the Simons Foundation and should be paid by other sources.

Below are key reimbursement takeaways; a full policy will be provided with the final logistics email circulated approximately 2 weeks prior to the meeting’s start.

Meals

The daily meal limit is $125; itemized receipts are required for expenses over $24 USD. The foundation DOES NOT provide a meal per diem and only reimburses actual meal expenses up the following amounts.

• Breakfast $20
• Lunch $30
• Dinner $75

Allowable Meal Expenses

• Meals taken on travel days (when you traveled by air or train).
• Meals not provided on a meeting day, dinner on Friday for example.
• Group dinners consisting of fellow meeting participants paid by a single person will be reimbursed up to $75 per person and the amount will count towards the $125 daily meal limit.

Unallowable Meal Expenses

• Meals taken outside those provided by the foundation (breakfast, lunch, breaks and/or dinner).
• Meals taken on days not associated with Simons Foundation-coordinated events.
• Minibar expenses.
• Meal expenses for a non-foundation guest.

• Ubers, Lyfts, taxis, etc., taken to and from restaurants in Manhattan.

  • Accommodations will be made for those with mobility restrictions.

Ground Transportation

Expenses for ground transportation will be reimbursed for travel days (i.e. traveling to/from the airport or train station) as well as subway and bus fares while in Manhattan are reimbursable.

Transportation to/from satellite meetings are not reimbursable.

Attendance

In-person participants and speakers are expected to attend all meeting days. Participants receiving hotel and travel support wishing to arrive on meeting days which conclude at 2:00 PM will be asked to attend remotely.

Entry & Building Access

Upon arrival, guests will be required to show their photo ID to enter the Simons Foundation and Flatiron Institute buildings. After checking-in at the meeting reception desk, guests will be able to show their meeting name badge to re-enter the building. If you forget your name badge, you will need to provide your photo ID.

The Simons Foundation and Flatiron Institute buildings are not considered “open campuses” and meeting participants will only have access to the spaces in which the meeting will take place. All other areas are off limits without prior approval.

If you require a private space to conduct a phone call or remote meeting, please contact your meeting manager at least 48-hours ahead of time so that they may book a space for you within the foundation’s room reservation system.

Guests & Children

Meeting participants are required to give 24-hour advance notice of any guests meeting them at the Simons Foundation either before or after the meeting. Outside guests are discouraged from joining meeting activities, including meals.

With the exception of Simons Foundation and Flatiron Institute staff, ad hoc meeting participants who did not receive a meeting invitation directly from the Simons Foundation are not permitted.

Children under the age of 18 are not permitted to attend meetings at the Simons Foundation. Furthermore, the Simons Foundation does not provide childcare facilities or support of any kind. Special accommodations will be made for nursing parents.

Meeting & Policy Questions

Christina Darras
Events Manager
[email protected]

Travel & Hotel Support

FCM Travel Meetings & Events
[email protected]
Hours: M-F, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM ET
+1-877-300-7108