A Programme of Astrophysics, Cosmology and Technology in Cardiff 2016-19
Lead Research Organisation:
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Department Name: School of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
We propose a programme of Astrophysics, Cosmology and Technology development for Astrophysics and Cosmology, to investigate star and planet formation in our own and other galaxies, and how galaxies form and evolve. This programme will combine observational data from world-class ground and space-based observatories, as well as theoretical modelling and simulations of the processes that result in the Universe we observe around us. We will also continue to develop the world's most sensitive detectors for very long infrared wavelengths, along with associated optical components utilising 'metamaterials' the class of materials designed and manufactured by human beings to have the properties best suited to their task, rather than relying on naturally occurring minerals and plastics. Both of these areas of technology development potentially have wide applications outside of Astronomy, in areas such as security scanners and bio-medical imaging for example. The technologies used for imaging can also be extended to undertake spectroscopy, and we propose a programme to develop the capability to obtain a spectrum of every point in a large area image of the sky, which is essential for understanding how far away the objects found in deep surveys are, but also what the conditions in the gas that make up these objects are.
Planned Impact
The technology programme proposed here will have extensive impact outside of astronomy. Firstly in other academic subject areas such as Earth-observing where the technology is used to look downwards or sideways through the atmosphere rather than upwards, but also in bio-medical imaging, where the Far-infrared wavelength range has many spectral features, and is currently being used in collaboration with the School of Optometry in Cardiff to assess corneal damage, for example. Secondly we also plan to exploit the technology commercially, through the spinout company QMCI (www.terahertz.co.uk) which operates from within the School, with broad applications from fast plasma diagnostic systems in use in Fusion experiments, through laboratory spectroscopy across a wide range of chemistry and materials applications, through to security imaging. We also plan a very strong Outreach programme across both the technology developments and the observational and theoretical astrophysics and cosmology programme, following on from the skills developed during the very successful Herschel/Planck outreach programme, with web-based and standard media information releases, but also tied in with Open days, school visits, and going out into schools and colleges to give presentations and host workshops. This work is closely aligned also with the in-house science communication company Science Made Simple.
Publications
Remazeilles M
(2018)
Exploring cosmic origins with CORE: B -mode component separation
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Mangilli A
(2018)
PILOT balloon-borne experiment in-flight performance
Soam A
(2018)
Magnetic Fields toward Ophiuchus-B Derived from SCUBA-2 Polarization Measurements
in The Astrophysical Journal
Ashton P
(2018)
First Observation of the Submillimeter Polarization Spectrum in a Translucent Molecular Cloud
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kirk H
(2018)
The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: SCUBA-2 Data Reduction Methods and Gaussian Source Recovery Analysis
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Ward-Thompson D.
(2018)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: LDN 1495 SCUBA-2 and Herschel data (Ward-Thompson+, 2016)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Rigby A
(2018)
A NIKA view of two star-forming infrared dark clouds: Dust emissivity variations and mass concentration
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Finelli F
(2018)
Exploring cosmic origins with CORE: Inflation
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
De Bernardis P
(2018)
Exploring cosmic origins with CORE: The instrument
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Kwon J
(2018)
A First Look at BISTRO Observations of the ? Oph-A core
in The Astrophysical Journal
Johnson B
(2018)
Development of Multi-chroic MKIDs for Next-Generation CMB Polarization Studies
in Journal of Low Temperature Physics
Adam R
(2018)
The NIKA2 large-field-of-view millimetre continuum camera for the 30 m IRAM telescope
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Adam R
(2018)
Substructure and merger detection in resolved NIKA Sunyaev-Zel'dovich images of distant clusters
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Natoli P
(2018)
Exploring cosmic origins with CORE: Mitigation of systematic effects
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Catalano A
(2018)
The NIKA2 Instrument at 30-m IRAM Telescope: Performance and Results
in Journal of Low Temperature Physics
Zotti G
(2018)
Exploring cosmic origins with CORE: Extragalactic sources in cosmic microwave background maps
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
McCarrick H
(2018)
Design and performance of dual-polarization lumped-element kinetic inductance detectors for millimeter-wave polarimetry
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Barry P
(2018)
Design and Performance of the Antenna-Coupled Lumped-Element Kinetic Inductance Detector
in Journal of Low Temperature Physics
Valentino E
(2018)
Exploring cosmic origins with CORE: Cosmological parameters
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
| Description | Astronomy Grants |
| Amount | £2,212,225 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/K000926/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2013 |
| End | 04/2016 |
| Description | The Simons Observatory |
| Organisation | Simons Observatory |
| Country | Chile |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Within this award the following are members of the Simons Observatory: Prof Carole Tucker, Prof Peter Ade, Dr Erminia Callabrese, Dr Enzo Pascale, Dr Rashmi Sudiwala. The following have the status, 'Motivated Observer', Dr Simon Doyle, Prof Peter Hargrave, Dr Giampaolo Pisano. Dr Erminia Calabrese is a member of the Simons Observatory Theory and Analysis Committee (SOTAC); Profs Tucker and Ade & Dr Pascale are members of technical working groups. Cardiff technology, funded through successive STFC grants enables the control of the thermal and optical environment on this large scale Submm telescope. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Simons Observatory will fund infrastructure upgrade to existing STFC funded facilities for the manufacture of quasi optical components to very large sizes (700 mm). Cardiff STFC-funded academics will be authors of forthcoming scientific papers by the SO team. |
| Impact | Outputs will be in future - during instrument build and then first light - from 2020. |
| Start Year | 2017 |