The most extreme astrophysical phenomena are found in the vicinty of neutron stars and black holes. These exotic objects possess crushing gravitational forces. In their vicinity some of the non-intuitive predictions of Einstein's relativity - like the twisting of space known as frame dragging - can be verified.
The extreme astrophysics group at Steward Observatory is dedicated to probing these intense gravitational fields, through X-ray observations of neutron stars undergoing bursts, and observing the rim of a black hole using the entire earth as a telescope.
Facultyand Research Staff with a research interest in this area include:
(Bottom Right) Some of the possible ranges of Masses and Radius that are available for particular Neutron Star equations of state [6]. The allowable masses and radii are sensitive to incredibly high pressure nuclear physics.
Links
[1] https://www.as.arizona.edu/people/faculty/dan-marrone
[2] http://www.as.arizona.edu/people/faculty/fulvio-melia
[3] http://www.as.arizona.edu/people/faculty/rodger-i-thompson
[4] https://www.as.arizona.edu/people/faculty/chi-kwan-chan
[5] http://ice.as.arizona.edu/Extreme_Astrophysics_Group/Extreme_Astrophysics_Group_%40_UofA.html
[6] http://arxiv.org/abs/1210.0916