Astronomy Research at Queen Mary
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen Mary University of London
Department Name: Astronomy Unit
Abstract
We propose to undertake the following research projects.
i) We will use supercomputer simulations to model the gas discs that orbit young stars,
which are believed to be the sites of planet formation.
The aim is to examine the behaviour of the gas as it orbits around the star, and to
examine how planets that form in these discs interact with them. This interaction
may explain the fact that many of the extrasolar planets that have been discovered
outside of our solar system orbit close to their host stars.
ii) We will use supercomputer simulations to model the atmospheres of extrasolar
planets. These atmospheres display interesting patterns of gas flow, and extrasolar planets
often orbit close to their stars and so are strongly heated on one side, causing strong winds
to arise. The simulations will help us better understand these atmospheres.
iii) Using mathematical representations of the laws of physics, we will produce new models
for the early evolution of the Universe, shortly after the big-bang, during which time it
underwent very rapid expansion known as "inflation". The models will be compared with
observations of the Universe to see which ones are compatible with the data.
iv) We will use Einstein's theory of gravity to make detailed predictions about the distribution
of matter in the Universe, and how this matter distribution appears to an observer on Earth.
These predictions will be compared with observational data to test Einstein's gravity on the
largest scales.
v) We will use the access that we have to the next generation of infrared spectrographs to
look for low mass planets around nearby low mass stars, using measurements of the star's
radial velocity as it orbits around the system centre of mass. Low mass stars are the optimal
targets for finding low mass planets in their habitable zone, so this may be an efficient method
of finding the first habitable earth-like planets. We will also use these spectrographs to look
for the signatures of molecules in planet atmospheres.
vi) We will use an observational survey of the Universe being undertaken by the VISTA
telescope to search for very distant quasars - galaxies that have supermassive black holes
at their centres, and which were born when the Universe was less than 10% of its
current age. We have already discovered the 2nd, 3rd and 4th most distant quasars that
are known, and the aim is to increase this number to about 10. We will then be able
to estimate of how many quasars there were when the Universe was very young,
and we will be able to examine the black holes and the structures of their galaxies.
i) We will use supercomputer simulations to model the gas discs that orbit young stars,
which are believed to be the sites of planet formation.
The aim is to examine the behaviour of the gas as it orbits around the star, and to
examine how planets that form in these discs interact with them. This interaction
may explain the fact that many of the extrasolar planets that have been discovered
outside of our solar system orbit close to their host stars.
ii) We will use supercomputer simulations to model the atmospheres of extrasolar
planets. These atmospheres display interesting patterns of gas flow, and extrasolar planets
often orbit close to their stars and so are strongly heated on one side, causing strong winds
to arise. The simulations will help us better understand these atmospheres.
iii) Using mathematical representations of the laws of physics, we will produce new models
for the early evolution of the Universe, shortly after the big-bang, during which time it
underwent very rapid expansion known as "inflation". The models will be compared with
observations of the Universe to see which ones are compatible with the data.
iv) We will use Einstein's theory of gravity to make detailed predictions about the distribution
of matter in the Universe, and how this matter distribution appears to an observer on Earth.
These predictions will be compared with observational data to test Einstein's gravity on the
largest scales.
v) We will use the access that we have to the next generation of infrared spectrographs to
look for low mass planets around nearby low mass stars, using measurements of the star's
radial velocity as it orbits around the system centre of mass. Low mass stars are the optimal
targets for finding low mass planets in their habitable zone, so this may be an efficient method
of finding the first habitable earth-like planets. We will also use these spectrographs to look
for the signatures of molecules in planet atmospheres.
vi) We will use an observational survey of the Universe being undertaken by the VISTA
telescope to search for very distant quasars - galaxies that have supermassive black holes
at their centres, and which were born when the Universe was less than 10% of its
current age. We have already discovered the 2nd, 3rd and 4th most distant quasars that
are known, and the aim is to increase this number to about 10. We will then be able
to estimate of how many quasars there were when the Universe was very young,
and we will be able to examine the black holes and the structures of their galaxies.
Planned Impact
The research proposed in this application is largely concerned with basic
scientific inquiry, and so in general it will not have high potential for
immediate economic or real world impact. The primary impact of the research
will be in the cultural sphere, as the research will increase the sum total of
human knowledge about the Universe and its constituents, and will therefore
enhance the sense of wonder about the world that we live in for the general public.
Our research in areas such as cosmology, extrasolar planets, quasars, black holes,
the Saturn system, space weather, and the origin of the Solar System all have
strong public appeal and interest.
The Astronomy Unit has an active programme of public engagement and
schools outreach, both to inform and engage the general public about our
research, and to also inspire school pupils to become interested in science
and to take STEM subjects post-GCSE. These engagement programmes
include giving public talks, having open days and evenings at the university
(e.g. Stargazing Live! events etc), and a range of media work that includes
TV and radio interviews. Our schools outreach programmes include summer schools,
essay writing competitions, going into schools to give talks and provide hands-on activities.
A recent initiative is a summer school for school students to learn about computer
coding while undertaking hands-on analysis of astronomical data. In doing this we are explicitly
supporting the STEM agenda through our research, which is a key government policy for building
long term economic growth.
Other areas of our research that may have applications outside of the academic sphere
include high performance computing and the development of advanced computer codes
and algorithms, and in advanced techniques in data analysis. Again, we will be alert to any
opportunities that may arise in finding real world or commercial applications of this work.
Finally, the posdoctoral staff that we will employ on the grant will receive training and
experience in a variety of skills that will be of great benefit to the wider economy if
they at some stage leave academia and work in industry or the commercial sector.
These skills include advanced computing and data analysis, independent problem
solving, project management, report writing through authorship of scientific
publications, and presentation skills obtained from conference attendance etc.
scientific inquiry, and so in general it will not have high potential for
immediate economic or real world impact. The primary impact of the research
will be in the cultural sphere, as the research will increase the sum total of
human knowledge about the Universe and its constituents, and will therefore
enhance the sense of wonder about the world that we live in for the general public.
Our research in areas such as cosmology, extrasolar planets, quasars, black holes,
the Saturn system, space weather, and the origin of the Solar System all have
strong public appeal and interest.
The Astronomy Unit has an active programme of public engagement and
schools outreach, both to inform and engage the general public about our
research, and to also inspire school pupils to become interested in science
and to take STEM subjects post-GCSE. These engagement programmes
include giving public talks, having open days and evenings at the university
(e.g. Stargazing Live! events etc), and a range of media work that includes
TV and radio interviews. Our schools outreach programmes include summer schools,
essay writing competitions, going into schools to give talks and provide hands-on activities.
A recent initiative is a summer school for school students to learn about computer
coding while undertaking hands-on analysis of astronomical data. In doing this we are explicitly
supporting the STEM agenda through our research, which is a key government policy for building
long term economic growth.
Other areas of our research that may have applications outside of the academic sphere
include high performance computing and the development of advanced computer codes
and algorithms, and in advanced techniques in data analysis. Again, we will be alert to any
opportunities that may arise in finding real world or commercial applications of this work.
Finally, the posdoctoral staff that we will employ on the grant will receive training and
experience in a variety of skills that will be of great benefit to the wider economy if
they at some stage leave academia and work in industry or the commercial sector.
These skills include advanced computing and data analysis, independent problem
solving, project management, report writing through authorship of scientific
publications, and presentation skills obtained from conference attendance etc.
Publications
Turner Neal
(2021)
Assembling Planetary Systems in Starlight-Heated Disks of Gas and Dust
in 43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 28 January - 4 February
Poon Sanson
(2019)
Formation of compact system of super-Earth via dynamical instabilities and giant impacts
in AAS/Division for Extreme Solar Systems Abstracts
Hinkley Sasha
(2019)
Studying the Interior Structure of an Extremely Eccentric Hot Jupiter via Deep VLT Imaging
in AAS/Division for Extreme Solar Systems Abstracts
Lovascio Francesco
(2019)
Can a dust gas mixture be modelled as a single fluid?
in AAS/Division for Extreme Solar Systems Abstracts
Haswell Carole Ann
(2019)
Key Planets for Exogeology in the 2020s: Discoveries from the Dispersed Matter Planet Project
in AAS/Division for Extreme Solar Systems Abstracts
Harrington Joseph
(2018)
Spitzer's Search for Proxima Centauri b Transits
in AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #50
Challener Ryan C.
(2018)
Improved Methods for Spitzer Systematic Identification and Removal
in AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #50
Ramsey J.
(2021)
Global Non-ideal MHD Simulations of Protoplanetary Disks with Irradiation, Thermochemistry, and Synthetic Observations
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
Bull P.
(2018)
Fundamental Physics with the Square Kilometer Array
in arXiv e-prints
Gallagher Christopher
(2019)
Multi-Scale Perturbation Theory I: Methodology and Leading-Order Bispectrum Corrections in the Matter-Dominated Era
in arXiv e-prints
Fuentes Jorge L.
(2018)
Linear cosmological perturbations in almost scale-invariant fourth-order gravity
in arXiv e-prints
Maartens Roy
(2019)
Detecting the relativistic galaxy bispectrum
in arXiv e-prints
Umeh Obinna
(2019)
General relativistic effects in the galaxy bias at second order
in arXiv e-prints
Snellen Ignas
(2019)
ESA Voyage 2050 White Paper: Detecting life outside our solar system with a large high-contrast-imaging mission
in arXiv e-prints
Anton Theodore
(2023)
Modelling the emergence of cosmic anisotropy from non-linear structures
in arXiv e-prints
Keller Pascal M.
(2023)
Search for the Epoch of Reionisation with HERA: Upper Limits on the Closure Phase Delay Power Spectrum
in arXiv e-prints
Cunnington Steven
(2023)
The foreground transfer function for HI intensity mapping signal reconstruction: MeerKLASS and precision cosmology applications
in arXiv e-prints
Standing Matthew R.
(2023)
The First Circumbinary Planet Discovered with Radial Velocities
in arXiv e-prints
Sch
(2019)
The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs. Activity indicators at visible and near-infrared wavelengths
in arXiv e-prints
Normann Ben David
(2019)
Recursion relations for gravitational lensing
in arXiv e-prints
Clarkson Chris
(2018)
The dipole of the galaxy bispectrum
in arXiv e-prints
Irfan Melis O.
(2023)
MeerKLASS simulations: Mitigating 1/f noise for auto-correlation intensity mapping measurements
in arXiv e-prints
Guandalin Caroline
(2022)
Theoretical systematics in testing the Cosmological Principle with the kinematic quasar dipole
in arXiv e-prints
Adamek Julian
(2018)
Bias and scatter in the Hubble diagram from cosmological large-scale structure
in arXiv e-prints
Thomas Daniel B.
(2022)
Scale-Dependent Gravitational Couplings in Parameterised Post-Newtonian Cosmology
in arXiv e-prints
De Weerd Eline M.
(2019)
Multipoles of the relativistic galaxy bispectrum
in arXiv e-prints
Nesseris S.
(2021)
Euclid: Forecast constraints on consistency tests of the $\Lambda$CDM model
in arXiv e-prints
Clifton Timothy
(2020)
Viable Gauge Choices in Cosmologies with Non-Linear Structures
in arXiv e-prints
Lepori Francesca
(2020)
Weak-lensing observables in relativistic N-body simulations
in arXiv e-prints
McNally Colin P.
(2018)
Low mass planet migration in Hall-affected disks
in arXiv e-prints
Koksbang Sofie Marie
(2018)
Accurately computing weak lensing convergence
in arXiv e-prints
Andrianomena Sambatra
(2018)
Testing General Relativity with the Doppler magnification effect
in arXiv e-prints
Martinez-Carrillo Rebeca
(2019)
Relativistic and non-Gaussianity contributions to the one-loop power spectrum
in arXiv e-prints
Hintz D.
(2019)
The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs. Chromospheric modeling of M2-3 V stars with PHOENIX
in arXiv e-prints
Staab D.
(2019)
A compact multi-planet system around a bright nearby star from the Dispersed Matter Planet Project
in arXiv e-prints
Anton Theodore
(2021)
The Momentum Constraint Equation in Parameterised Post-Newtonian Cosmology
in arXiv e-prints
Toledo-Padr
(2018)
Stellar activity analysis of Barnard's Star: Very slow rotation and evidence for long-term activity cycle
in arXiv e-prints
Carrilho Pedro
(2019)
Magnetogenesis from isocurvature initial conditions
in arXiv e-prints
Padilla Luis E.
(2021)
A new mechanism for primordial black hole formation during reheating
in arXiv e-prints
McNally Colin P.
(2020)
Low mass planet migration in three dimensional wind-driven inviscid discs: A negative corotation torque
in arXiv e-prints
Collaboration T
(2022)
Improved Constraints on the 21 cm EoR Power Spectrum and the X-Ray Heating of the IGM with HERA Phase I Observations
in arXiv e-prints
Fernandes Pedro G. S.
(2022)
The 4D Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet Theory of Gravity: A Review
in arXiv e-prints
Kennedy Fraser
(2022)
Statistical recovery of 21cm visibilities and their power spectra with Gaussian constrained realisations and Gibbs sampling
in arXiv e-prints
Duniya Didam
(2019)
Probing beyond-Horndeski gravity on ultra-large scales
in arXiv e-prints
Fuentes Jorge L.
(2019)
Galaxy number counts at second order: an independent approach
in arXiv e-prints
Paul Pritha
(2022)
Wide-angle effects in multi-tracer power spectra with Doppler corrections
in arXiv e-prints
Ziampras A
(2023)
Hydrodynamic turbulence in disks with embedded planets
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Nelson R
(2023)
Gas accretion onto Jupiter mass planets in discs with laminar accretion flows
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Luque R
(2019)
Planetary system around the nearby M dwarf GJ 357 including a transiting, hot, Earth-sized planet optimal for atmospheric characterization
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Alonso-Floriano F
(2019)
He I ? 10 830 Å in the transmission spectrum of HD209458 b
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Description | Astronomy Research at Queen Mary 2020 - 2023 |
Amount | £1,868,746 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/T000341/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2020 |
End | 03/2024 |