Summary of Research
I use numerical simulations to explore the nature of fluid dynamics in the extreme environments around neutron stars and black holes. Currently, I am using a 3D general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics code to simulate accretion onto a highly magnetized, spinning neutron star that is engulfed in the outer envelope of a red giant star. I am particularly interested in determining how properties of the gas, like the polytropic index, can change the mass accretion rate and the formation of features like jets and accretion disks in the system. This setup is applicable to the formation of many interesting astrophysical systems, such as X-ray binaries, millisecond pulsars, and gravitational waves.
Publications
Wendeborn, J., C. Espaillat, S. Lopez, T. Thanathibodee, C. Robinson, C. Pittman, N. Calvet, N. Flors, et al. "A Multi-wavelength, Multi-epoch Monitoring Campaign of Accretion Variability in T Tauri Stars from the ODYSSEUS Survey. I. HST FUV and NUV Spectra." ApJ, 970, 118, 2024, DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad4a62.
Flors, N. and M. Goblirsch-Kolb. "Using Machine Learning to Replicate Complex Physics Observables." ATL-COM-PHYS-2023-1082, 2023, URL: https://cds.cern.ch/record/2882346.
Presentations:
Flors, N., Kaaz, N., Murguia-Berthier, A., and Tchekhovskoy, A. (2025, July 8). "Neutron Star Drag Race: Improving Astrophysical Wind Tunnel Simulations with High-Performance Computing" [Oral presentation]. International High-Performance Computing Summer School, Lisbon, Portugal.
Flors, N., Kaaz, N., Murguia-Berthier, A., and Tchekhovskoy, A. (2025, June 24). "Neutron Star Drag Race: Extending Bondi-Hoyle-Lyttleton Accretion with Realistic Simulations" [Poster presentation]. Caltech Relativistic Astrophysics Summer School, Pasadena, CA, United States.
Flors, N. (2023, October 21). "Tracking and Correlating Multi-Wavelength Emissions in Blazars to Explain the Origin of Gamma-Rays" [Oral presentation]. Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium, Houston, TX, United States.
Flors, N. (2023, June 28). "Using Machine Learning to Replicate Complex Physics Observables" [Oral presentation]. ATLAS H to ZZ Group Meeting, Meyrin, Switzerland.
Flors, N., Marscher, A., Jorstad, S. (2024, January 7). "Correlating Gamma-Ray Variations of Blazars with Optical Light Curves and Polarization" [Poster presentation]. 243rd Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, New Orleans, LA, United States. URL: https://aas243-aas.ipostersessions.com/Default.aspx?s=B1-49-67-B3-A6-D5-23-44-07-C0-74-60-C9-67-8D-CB.
Flors, N. (2022, October 21). "Analyzing Line Fluxes of Young Stars That Relate to Mass Accretion" [Poster presentation]. 25th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, Boston, MA, United States.
Awards
Completion of the IHPCSS computing challenge, International High-Performance Computing Summer School, 2025
Rapid Fire Research Award, First Place, Northwestern University, 2025
Bachelor's of Arts Degree with Highest Honors (Summa Cum Laude), Boston University, 2024
Boston University College Prize in Astronomy, 2024
Faculty Award for Joint and Interdisciplinary Majors, Boston University, 2024
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, 2023
Clare Boothe Luce Scholar Award, 2022
Dean's List, Boston University, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022
Presidential Scholarship, Boston University, 2020
National Merit Scholarship, 2020