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
Eden D
(2019)
SCOPE: SCUBA-2 Continuum Observations of Pre-protostellar Evolution - survey description and compact source catalogue
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Zheng Z
(2019)
SDSS-IV MaNGA: Environmental Dependence of the Mgb/ - Relation for Nearby Galaxies
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Graham M
(2018)
SDSS-IV MaNGA: stellar angular momentum of about 2300 galaxies: unveiling the bimodality of massive galaxy properties
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Zhou S
(2019)
SDSS-IV MaNGA: stellar initial mass function variation inferred from Bayesian analysis of the integral field spectroscopy of early-type galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Greene J
(2018)
SDSS-IV MaNGA: Uncovering the Angular Momentum Content of Central and Satellite Early-type Galaxies
in The Astrophysical Journal
Li H
(2017)
SDSS-IV MaNGA: Variation of the Stellar Initial Mass Function in Spiral and Early-type Galaxies
in The Astrophysical Journal
Abbott B
(2019)
Searches for Gravitational Waves from Known Pulsars at Two Harmonics in 2015-2017 LIGO Data
in The Astrophysical Journal
Reischke R
(2018)
Shear and vorticity in the spherical collapse of dark matter haloes
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Zucca P
(2018)
Shock location and CME 3D reconstruction of a solar type II radio burst with LOFAR
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Harper S.E.
(2020)
Simulation of systematics in future single-dish HI intensity mapping experiments
in Proceedings of the 53rd Rencontres de Moriond on Cosmology 2018
Yan ? Z
(2018)
Simultaneous 13 cm/3 cm Single-pulse Observations of PSR B0329+54
in The Astrophysical Journal
Humphreys E
(2017)
Simultaneous 183 GHz H 2 O maser and SiO observations towards evolved stars using APEX SEPIA Band 5
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Cyganowski C
(2017)
Simultaneous low- and high-mass star formation in a massive protocluster: ALMA observations of G11.92-0.61?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hermsen W
(2017)
Simultaneous X-ray and radio observations of the radio-mode-switching pulsar PSR B1822-09
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Michilli D
(2018)
Single-pulse classifier for the LOFAR Tied-Array All-sky Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Blanton M
(2017)
Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV: Mapping the Milky Way, Nearby Galaxies, and the Distant Universe
in The Astronomical Journal
Skipper C
(2018)
Spatially offset AGN candidates in the CLASS survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McCallum N
(2021)
Spin characterization of systematics in CMB surveys - a comprehensive formalism
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Levin L
(2019)
Spin frequency evolution and pulse profile variations of the recently re-activated radio magnetar XTE J1810-197
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McCallum N
(2021)
Spin-based removal of instrumental systematics in 21 cm intensity mapping surveys
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McCallum N
(2021)
Spin-based removal of instrumental systematics in 21 cm intensity mapping surveys
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Scholz P
(2017)
Spin-down Evolution and Radio Disappearance of the Magnetar PSR J1622-4950
in The Astrophysical Journal
Barnes D
(2018)
SPMHD simulations of structure formation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grainge K
(2017)
Square Kilometre Array: The radio telescope of the XXI century
in Astronomy Reports
Blundell K
(2018)
SS433's Jet Trace from ALMA Imaging and Global Jet Watch Spectroscopy: Evidence for Post-launch Particle Acceleration
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kraemer K
(2019)
Stellar Pulsation and the Production of Dust and Molecules in Galactic Carbon Stars
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hartley P
(2019)
Strong lensing reveals jets in a sub-microJy radio-quiet quasar
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Decin L
(2017)
Study of the aluminium content in AGB winds using ALMA Indications for the presence of gas-phase (Al 2 O 3 ) n clusters
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Thomson A.P.
(2018)
Studying galaxy evolution through cosmic time via the µJy radio population: Early results from eMERGE
in Proceedings of Science
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
Caballero R
(2018)
Studying the Solar system with the International Pulsar Timing Array
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Varenius E
(2018)
Subarcsecond international LOFAR radio images of Arp 220 at 150 MHz A kpc-scale star forming disk surrounding nuclei with shocked outflows ( Corrigendum )
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Park G
(2019)
Submillimeter Continuum Variability in Planck Galactic Cold Clumps
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Sobolev A
(2018)
Sun-sized Water Vapor Masers in Cepheus A
in The Astrophysical Journal
Peters A
(2018)
Supercluster simulations: impact of baryons on the matter power spectrum and weak lensing forecasts for Super-CLASS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hartley P
(2017)
Support vector machine classification of strong gravitational lenses
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Buckley D
(2019)
Targeted search for young radio pulsars in the SMC: discovery of two new pulsars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McKee J
(2018)
Temporal variations in scattering and dispersion measure in the Crab Pulsar and their effect on timing precision
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Porayko N
(2019)
Testing the accuracy of the ionospheric Faraday rotation corrections through LOFAR observations of bright northern pulsars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Traficante A
(2018)
Testing the Larson relations in massive clumps
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Zhu W
(2019)
Tests of gravitational symmetries with pulsar binary J1713+0747
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bendo G
(2017)
Tests of star formation metrics in the low-metallicity galaxy NGC 5253 using ALMA observations of H30a line emission
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Green J
(2017)
The 6-GHz multibeam maser survey - II. Statistical analysis and Galactic distribution of 6668-MHz methanol masers
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Breen S
(2018)
The 6-GHz Multibeam Maser Survey - III. Comparison between the MMB and HOPS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Morosan D
(2017)
The association of a J -burst with a solar jet
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Smits R
(2017)
The beamformer and correlator for the Large European Array for Pulsars
in Astronomy and Computing
Barker H
(2018)
The binary fraction of planetary nebula central stars - III. the promise of VPHAS+
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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 |