Dr. Craig Heinke (University of Alberta, Canada)

Thermal X-rays from the surface of neutron stars reveal crucial information about the surfaces and interiors of these dense stars.  I will explain our understanding of thermal emission from low-magnetic-field neutron stars. I will give illustrations of how we can use this thermal emission to understand the cooling of young and old neutron stars, including the Cas A neutron star (which seems to show evidence of a superfluid transition in its core).  Finally, I will discuss efforts to constrain the neutron star radius, through studying thermonuclear flashes, and from studying quiet neutron stars between accretion episodes in globular clusters, including new results.