Astronomy Theory at Newcastle University

This consolidated submission includes seven projects, mostly falling under astrophysical fluid dynamics (3 projects) or cosmology (3 projects). One additional project is on observations of active galactic nuclei and their impact on galaxy evolution and the interstellar medium. The number of projects submitted to this STFC round is one larger than last year, but that is because we have four new applicants, therefore, per academic FTE in the general area of astrophysics the number of projects has decreased. The research represents the traditional strengths of Newcastle Applied Mathematics in astrophysical fluid dynamics, including a project on Neutron Stars (which addresses STFC Big Science Question C: What are the basic constituents of matter as well as B: how do stars develop), one on massive stars (B: How do stars and planetary systems develop) and one on the interstellar medium (ISM, again B). The other three projects which revolve around cosmology all address the STFC Big Science Question A: How did the Universe begin and how is it evolving?). The research group is similarly made up of a combination of applied mathematicians who have been at Newcastle for some time and have applied to STFC in past rounds and a cohort of early career researchers hired recently as part of the renewed Newcastle Physics program.