Astrophysics and Cosmology Research within the JBCA 2017-2020
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
This grant supports the research of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester. Our research is a divided into 3 groups. There are too many specific proposals to describe in detail, do below we have given a brief layman's explanation of the work being carried out by the three groups.
Cosmology: This is the study of the Universe as a whole. The main aim is to understand the processes by which the large scale feature of the Universe formed and to constrain the various different kinds of matter that existed within it. These include dark matter and dark energy which are thought to constitute more than 95% of the total. We do this by comparison to observations of weak and strong gravitational lensing which is the distortion of light predicted to be caused by massive objects in Einstein' Theory of General Relativity, the cosmic microwave background which is the faint emission of radiation created at the time when protons and electrons come together to form hydrogen and the emission given off by neutral hydrogen atoms in galaxies. The research we propose here involves both theory and observation as well as the development of the technology necessary to make the observations possible.
Sun, Stars and Galaxies: The researchers in this group study a wide range of astrophysical processes that are reasonable for the formation and evolution of the objects in the name of the group. Specific key areas that the group is interested in are the formation of stars much larger than the Sun and the subsequent evolution, the properties of the so-called interstellar medium (ISM) which comprises molecules not bound to stars and the magnetic fields that permeate space.
Pulsars and Time Domain Astrophysics: The focus of this group is astrophysical signatures that are change with time: things which come on and off, often with some kind of regularity. These include Pulsars which are non-standard star time, known as a neutron star, which is a dead star supported by the quantum pressure of neutrons. The radio emission from these objects pulses on an off with extraordinary regularity allowing them to acts cosmic clocks. The constantly measuring these clocks as the neutron stars spin and move through space, often impacted on by a companion star, allows the most precise constraints on the nature of gravity outside the solar system. Other phenomena studied by this group include Nova explosions, other variable stars, and variability induced by the lensing effects of one star passing in front of another, called microlensing.
Cosmology: This is the study of the Universe as a whole. The main aim is to understand the processes by which the large scale feature of the Universe formed and to constrain the various different kinds of matter that existed within it. These include dark matter and dark energy which are thought to constitute more than 95% of the total. We do this by comparison to observations of weak and strong gravitational lensing which is the distortion of light predicted to be caused by massive objects in Einstein' Theory of General Relativity, the cosmic microwave background which is the faint emission of radiation created at the time when protons and electrons come together to form hydrogen and the emission given off by neutral hydrogen atoms in galaxies. The research we propose here involves both theory and observation as well as the development of the technology necessary to make the observations possible.
Sun, Stars and Galaxies: The researchers in this group study a wide range of astrophysical processes that are reasonable for the formation and evolution of the objects in the name of the group. Specific key areas that the group is interested in are the formation of stars much larger than the Sun and the subsequent evolution, the properties of the so-called interstellar medium (ISM) which comprises molecules not bound to stars and the magnetic fields that permeate space.
Pulsars and Time Domain Astrophysics: The focus of this group is astrophysical signatures that are change with time: things which come on and off, often with some kind of regularity. These include Pulsars which are non-standard star time, known as a neutron star, which is a dead star supported by the quantum pressure of neutrons. The radio emission from these objects pulses on an off with extraordinary regularity allowing them to acts cosmic clocks. The constantly measuring these clocks as the neutron stars spin and move through space, often impacted on by a companion star, allows the most precise constraints on the nature of gravity outside the solar system. Other phenomena studied by this group include Nova explosions, other variable stars, and variability induced by the lensing effects of one star passing in front of another, called microlensing.
Planned Impact
The range of research we undertake and the world-class facilities within and in close association with JBCA (the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, e-MERLIN, the Lovell Telescope, the ALMA ARC and the SKA HQ) will provide key pathways to increasing our already strong impact on UK and global industry, the next generation of scientists and engineers, and the general public. The University's investment in the Jodrell Bank site combined with significant external funding (e.g. from Heritage Lottery Fund) will enable us to expand its use as an iconic venue for public and industrial engagement. The programme described here formed a key part of the School's submission for REF2014, helping it to be ranked highest in the REF for physics impact with 83% at 4* and 17% at 3*. Our outreach \& public engagement programme is extremely strong and continues to grow, particularly through its work with the University's award-winning Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre and the BBC. With the recent decision on SKA HQ location and our strong research work in this area, there is also growing impact in both outreach and industrial engagement in this area.
Our "Pathways to Impact" statement in the case for support outlines things that we have done in recent times under the headings of "Outreach and Public Engagement" and "Industrial and economic impact". We list some highlights below.
- Jodcast: Podcast run by students with 7000 regular listeners.
- 230000 Twitter followers
- Stargazing live
- JB Discovery centre with 150000 visitors per year
- Award winning "Live from Jodrell Bank" rock concerts
- Industry contracts for SKA work including CISCO, AASL, NPL, GEANT
- Newton programme for Radio Astronomy in Africa.
Our "Pathways to Impact" statement in the case for support outlines things that we have done in recent times under the headings of "Outreach and Public Engagement" and "Industrial and economic impact". We list some highlights below.
- Jodcast: Podcast run by students with 7000 regular listeners.
- 230000 Twitter followers
- Stargazing live
- JB Discovery centre with 150000 visitors per year
- Award winning "Live from Jodrell Bank" rock concerts
- Industry contracts for SKA work including CISCO, AASL, NPL, GEANT
- Newton programme for Radio Astronomy in Africa.
Organisations
Publications
Zucca P
(2018)
Shock location and CME 3D reconstruction of a solar type II radio burst with LOFAR
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Aleman I
(2018)
Herschel Planetary Nebula Survey (HerPlaNS)?: hydrogen recombination laser lines in Mz 3
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gesicki K
(2018)
The mysterious cut-off of the Planetary Nebula Luminosity Function
Tan C
(2018)
Ensemble candidate classification for the LOTAAS pulsar survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Saikia P
(2018)
15-GHz radio emission from nearby low-luminosity active galactic nuclei
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Prandoni I
(2018)
The Lockman Hole Project: new constraints on the sub-mJy source counts from a wide-area 1.4 GHz mosaic
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hoyle B
(2018)
Dark Energy Survey Year 1 Results: redshift distributions of the weak-lensing source galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Delabrouille J
(2018)
Exploring cosmic origins with CORE: Survey requirements and mission design
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Savini F
(2018)
Studying the late evolution of a radio-loud AGN in a galaxy group with LOFAR
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Perger K
(2018)
Constraining the radio jet proper motion of the high-redshift quasar J2134-0419 at z = 4.3
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
De Bernardis P
(2018)
Exploring cosmic origins with CORE: The instrument
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Erler J
(2018)
Planck's view on the spectrum of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mickaliger M
(2018)
A study of single pulses in the Parkes Multibeam Pulsar Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Robertson A
(2018)
The diverse density profiles of galaxy clusters with self-interacting dark matter plus baryons
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Greaves J
(2018)
Anomalous microwave emission from spinning nanodiamonds around stars
in Nature Astronomy
Bellini E
(2018)
Comparison of Einstein-Boltzmann solvers for testing general relativity
in Physical Review D
Gordovskyy M
(2018)
Analysis of unresolved photospheric magnetic field structure using Fe I 6301 and 6302 lines
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bright J
(2018)
Long-term radio and X-ray evolution of the tidal disruption event ASASSN-14li
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
O'Flannagain A
(2018)
Three-dimensional magnetic reconnection in a collapsing coronal loop system
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Li H
(2018)
SDSS-IV MaNGA: global stellar population and gradients for about 2000 early-type and spiral galaxies on the mass-size plane
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cendes Y
(2018)
RFI flagging implications for short-duration transients
in Astronomy and Computing
Challinor A
(2018)
Exploring cosmic origins with CORE: Gravitational lensing of the CMB
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Decin L
(2018)
Constraints on Metal Oxide and Metal Hydroxide Abundances in the Winds of AGB Stars: Potential Detection of FeO in R Dor
in The Astrophysical Journal
Irabor T
(2018)
The coordinated radio and infrared survey for high-mass star formation - IV. A new radio-selected sample of compact galactic planetary nebulae
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Zotti G
(2018)
Exploring cosmic origins with CORE: Extragalactic sources in cosmic microwave background maps
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Samuroff S
(2018)
Dark Energy Survey Year 1 results: the impact of galaxy neighbours on weak lensing cosmology with im3shape
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Battye R
(2018)
Gravitational wave constraints on dark sector models
in Physical Review D
Arias M
(2018)
Low-frequency radio absorption in Cassiopeia A
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Wardlow J
(2018)
An ALMA survey of CO in submillimetre galaxies: companions, triggering, and the environment in blended sources
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mizuno Y
(2018)
The current ability to test theories of gravity with black hole shadows
in Nature Astronomy
Gray M
(2018)
A new 3D maser code applied to flaring events
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Skipper C
(2018)
Spatially offset AGN candidates in the CLASS survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kennedy M
(2018)
Kepler K2 observations of the transitional millisecond pulsar PSR J1023+0038
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Teanby N
(2018)
The Origin of Titan's External Oxygen: Further Constraints from ALMA Upper Limits on CS and CH 2 NH
in The Astronomical Journal
Shaw B
(2018)
The largest glitch observed in the Crab pulsar
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Purser S
(2018)
Constraining the nature of DG Tau A's thermal and non-thermal radio emission
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gullberg B
(2018)
The Dust and [C ii] Morphologies of Redshift ~4.5 Sub-millimeter Galaxies at ~200 pc Resolution: The Absence of Large Clumps in the Interstellar Medium at High-redshift
in The Astrophysical Journal
Thomson A.P.
(2018)
Studying galaxy evolution through cosmic time via the µJy radio population: Early results from eMERGE
in Proceedings of Science
Dickinson C
(2018)
The State-of-Play of Anomalous Microwave Emission (AME) research
in New Astronomy Reviews
Barker H
(2018)
The binary fraction of planetary nebula central stars - III. the promise of VPHAS+
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Spiewak R
(2018)
PSR J2322-2650 - a low-luminosity millisecond pulsar with a planetary-mass companion
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kervella P
(2018)
The close circumstellar environment of Betelgeuse V. Rotation velocity and molecular envelope properties from ALMA
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Olivari L
(2018)
Intensity Mapping Foreground Cleaning with Generalized Needlet Internal Linear Combination
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Heesen V
(2018)
Exploring the making of a galactic wind in the starbursting dwarf irregular galaxy IC 10 with LOFAR
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bose S
(2018)
Gaia17biu/SN 2017egm in NGC 3191: The Closest Hydrogen-poor Superluminous Supernova to Date Is in a "Normal," Massive, Metal-rich Spiral Galaxy
in The Astrophysical Journal
| Description | The consolidated grant supported a wide range of activities in astrophysics and cosmology at the JBCA. This was based around three areas: cosmology - the study of the Universe as a single entity, pulsars - spinning neutron stars which emit pulse of radio waves at regular intervals, astrophysical processes - the study of galaxy and star formation in the universe. Progress was made in all these areas. |
| Exploitation Route | The wide range of work produce by the grant has been published in journals. These papers have received significant citations indicating that all the areas have had an impact within the academic research community. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Other |
| Description | The research has been used extensively in the outreach program of the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, which attracts 160,000 visitors per annum and focusses on hard-to-reach audiences. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Education |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
| Title | MKT J170456.2-482100: the first transient discovered byMeerKAT |
| Description | These are the data files required to make Figures 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, and 12 of the manuscript: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stz3027 or Open-Access on ArXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1911.07713 The code that uses these files to make the plots can be found here (DOI). Please make sure to cite these data correctly! The required citations for these data are: ASAS_data.tsv is ASAS data from their catalogue and therefore are not covered by our licence. If you make use of these data please cite ASAS appropriately according to their guidelines. KELT_S36_lc_027056_V01_west_tfa.dat and KELT_S36_lc_027057_V01_east_tfa.dat are data sets from KELT and therefore are not covered by our licence. If you make use of these data please cite KELT by citing Pepper et al. 2007. ASASSN.csv is ASAS-SN data from their catalogue and therefore are not covered by our licence. If you make use of these data please cite ASAS-SN appropriately according to their guidelines (when using ASAS-SN light curves in publications cite: Shappee et al. (2014) and Kochanek et al. (2017)). TYC_optical_semesters.npy, TYC_optical_binned.npy, and TYC_optical_binned_noOutliers.npy also make use of the above ASAS, KELT, and ASAS-SN. If you use these data please cite ASAS, KELT, and ASAS-SN as above, as well as our work. TYC_MeerKAT_fluxes.npy and TYC_local_RMS.npy are the data as presented in Table A1 in our manuscript. Therefore, please cite our work if you make use of these data. TYC_SED_datapoints.txt and TYC_SED_model.txt are the data and model used to make the SED of TYC 8332-2529-1. Please cite our work and the references therein for the datapoints, and our work and McDonald et al. 2012 and McDonald et al. 2017 if you make use of the model. TYC_MeerKAT_ScaledFlux.npy is presented in Figures 2 and 10 of our manuscript, please cite our work if you make use of these data SALT_radial_velocities.npy and LCO_radial_velocities.npy are presented in Table 2 of our manuscript, please cite our work if you make use of these data TYC_LS_periods.npy and TYC_LS_periodErrors.npy are the results of the Lomb-Scargle analysis of the optical observations and are presented in Figure 4 of our manuscript, please cite our work if you make use of these data More information about the format of these data and how to use them can be found in the GitHub repo (DOI). |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3548867 |
| Title | MKT J170456.2-482100: the first transient discovered byMeerKAT |
| Description | These are the data files required to make Figures 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, and 12 of the manuscript: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stz3027 or Open-Access on ArXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1911.07713 The code that uses these files to make the plots can be found here (DOI). Please make sure to cite these data correctly! The required citations for these data are: ASAS_data.tsv is ASAS data from their catalogue and therefore are not covered by our licence. If you make use of these data please cite ASAS appropriately according to their guidelines. KELT_S36_lc_027056_V01_west_tfa.dat and KELT_S36_lc_027057_V01_east_tfa.dat are data sets from KELT and therefore are not covered by our licence. If you make use of these data please cite KELT by citing Pepper et al. 2007. ASASSN.csv is ASAS-SN data from their catalogue and therefore are not covered by our licence. If you make use of these data please cite ASAS-SN appropriately according to their guidelines (when using ASAS-SN light curves in publications cite: Shappee et al. (2014) and Kochanek et al. (2017)). TYC_optical_semesters.npy, TYC_optical_binned.npy, and TYC_optical_binned_noOutliers.npy also make use of the above ASAS, KELT, and ASAS-SN. If you use these data please cite ASAS, KELT, and ASAS-SN as above, as well as our work. TYC_MeerKAT_fluxes.npy and TYC_local_RMS.npy are the data as presented in Table A1 in our manuscript. Therefore, please cite our work if you make use of these data. TYC_SED_datapoints.txt and TYC_SED_model.txt are the data and model used to make the SED of TYC 8332-2529-1. Please cite our work and the references therein for the datapoints, and our work and McDonald et al. 2012 and McDonald et al. 2017 if you make use of the model. TYC_MeerKAT_ScaledFlux.npy is presented in Figures 2 and 10 of our manuscript, please cite our work if you make use of these data SALT_radial_velocities.npy and LCO_radial_velocities.npy are presented in Table 2 of our manuscript, please cite our work if you make use of these data TYC_LS_periods.npy and TYC_LS_periodErrors.npy are the results of the Lomb-Scargle analysis of the optical observations and are presented in Figure 4 of our manuscript, please cite our work if you make use of these data More information about the format of these data and how to use them can be found in the GitHub repo (DOI). |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3548868 |