Astrophysics Research at the University of Leicester
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Our research aims to investigate a range of high-priority science topics in these areas:
i. studying high-energy and high-redshift transients and the relation of transients to gravitational wave events
ii. investigating the growth and evolution of the first stars and black holes in galaxies
iii. determining the properties of powerful active galactic nuclei including the Broad Line Region
iv. measuring the fundamental properties of white dwarf stars
v. investigating the properties of exoplanets, brown dwarfs and low mass stars
vi. investigating accretion processes
vii exploring the formation of planets
We will deliver this programme by carrying out observations using a broad range of ground and space based observing facilities, including XMM-Newton, HST, Swift, GAIA, JWST, ALMA, VLT, WHT, INT, LT, NGTS, GOTO and SAAO, and by conducting numerical simulations using major High Performance Computer facilities such as DiRAC.
i. studying high-energy and high-redshift transients and the relation of transients to gravitational wave events
ii. investigating the growth and evolution of the first stars and black holes in galaxies
iii. determining the properties of powerful active galactic nuclei including the Broad Line Region
iv. measuring the fundamental properties of white dwarf stars
v. investigating the properties of exoplanets, brown dwarfs and low mass stars
vi. investigating accretion processes
vii exploring the formation of planets
We will deliver this programme by carrying out observations using a broad range of ground and space based observing facilities, including XMM-Newton, HST, Swift, GAIA, JWST, ALMA, VLT, WHT, INT, LT, NGTS, GOTO and SAAO, and by conducting numerical simulations using major High Performance Computer facilities such as DiRAC.
Publications
Cufari M
(2023)
Tidal capture of stars by supermassive black holes: implications for periodic nuclear transients and quasi-periodic eruptions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Rowther S
(2023)
Continuing to hide signatures of gravitational instability in protoplanetary discs with planets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Levan A
(2023)
A long-duration gamma-ray burst of dynamical origin from the nucleus of an ancient galaxy
in Nature Astronomy
Patel M
(2023)
GRB 201015A and the nature of low-luminosity soft gamma-ray bursts
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Arulanantham N
(2023)
Lya Scattering Models Trace Accretion and Outflow Kinematics in T Tauri Systems*
in The Astrophysical Journal
Mong Y
(2023)
Self-supervised clustering on image-subtracted data with deep-embedded self-organizing map
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wu Y
(2023)
Distinguishing magnetized disc winds from turbulent viscosity through substructure morphology in planet-forming discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Williams M
(2023)
GRB 221009A: Discovery of an Exceptionally Rare Nearby and Energetic Gamma-Ray Burst
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
| Description | ENGRAVE |
| Organisation | European Southern Observatory (ESO) |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Our Leicester team is part of a large international collaboration to use ESO telescopes and others, for follow-up of the electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational wave events. Tanvir is a member of the governing council of ENGRAVE. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration has over 250 members, who bring diverse expertise. In particular, real time duties are the responsibility of a core group of about 40 people currently. |
| Impact | One paper submitted so far. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | STARGATE |
| Organisation | European Southern Observatory (ESO) |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Tanvir is PI of a large collaboration whose goal is to obtain optical/nIR follow-up observations of gamma-ray bursts using ESO facilities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration consists of a (geographically spread) core group who trigger and analyse the rapid target-of-opportunity observations, plus a wider group who contribute to planning, interpretation and analysis for at least some of the specialised sub-projects. (the number of partner institutions in this sense is large and fluid, and they are not individually listed. Similarly the value of the in-kind contributions is not well defined; except for ESO for which the value recorded here is a rough estimate) |
| Impact | About 15 papers written to date. |
| Start Year | 2016 |