Open University Rolling Grant 2009 - 2014
Lead Research Organisation:
The Open University
Department Name: Physical Sciences
Abstract
The OU Astronomy Group seeks continuation of its Rolling Grant to support a program of observational, theoretical, laboratory and space based astronomical research and instrumentation development. Theme 1 Star formation: This theme aims to understand star formation of our Galaxy and the local universe, focussing on near and far infrared studies. We will pursue four interlinked projects working within our access to the Guaranteed Time data from the AKARI space infrared telescope, the LOFAR radio telescope, and ESO facilities. The projects lie at the heart of star formation astrophysics, building on past work on molecular cloud structure, far-IR astronomy and triggered and high mass star formation. Project 1.1 ASTRO-F Galactic Plane Survey Project 1.2 Massive star and starburst cluster formation Project 1.3 HERSCHEL Survey exploitation Project 1.4 LOFAR Galactic Plane Survey Theme 2 Planetary Astrophysics: This area includes observational searches for Exoplanets; exoplanet characterisation with HST and Spitzer, modelling Exoplanet atmospheres; the interior structure of Exoplanets; and the dynamics and migration physics involved in various planetary architectures; and models and exploitation of data from solar system terrestrial planetary atmospheres. Project 2.1 Exoplanet Dynamics Project 2.2 Exoplanet Structure and Evolution Project 2.3 Solar System terrestrial planetary atmospheres Theme 3 Extragalactic Infrared astronomy & Cosmology: This is an integrated research programme to trace the cosmic evolution of star-forming galaxies using major international far-infrared and submm-wave legacy surveys / key projects. Project 3.1 SCUBA-2 and AKARI Legacy Surveys Project 3.2 The HERSCHEL ATLAS Key Project Project 3.3 The Cosmic Near-Infrared Background Theme 4 Extreme Environment astrophysics: This program explores the interrelation between galactic environment and relativistic object content in nearby galaxies, to provide insights into high-mass star formation, relativistic object formation and high-energy phenomena that cannot be gained from observations in our own Galaxy alone; to study the counterparts of high-energy sources we identify in our X-ray surveys of nearby galaxies; and conduct numerical simulations to model the nature of the accretion flows and the nature of their X-ray populations Project 4.1 Relativistic accretors in nearby galaxies Project 4.2 Characterising compact accreting systems Project 4.3 Magnetic Cataclysmic Variable Populations Theme 5 Laboratory Astrochemistry; Exploring Chemical Complexity: The research is targeted at simulating chemical and physical processes within star and planet formation regions and planetary atmospheres and surfaces; The research programme is focused on two projects (i) exploring the nature of chemical complexity in the ISM and (ii) identification of biomarkers that will be used to exploit extant data, and lead to the identification of robust biogenic biomarker signals in Exoplanet atmospheres and surfaces. Project 5.1 The Chemistry of Star and Planet Formation. Project 5.2 Identifying biosignatures for Exoplanetary studies; Theme 6 Astronomical Instrumentation Development for Space Missions: This proposal aims to promote radiation damage studies for future space missions which are within the STFC programme. The activity includes: a) Laboratory study of radiation damage and other environmental factors affecting scientific instrumentation on space missions, b) To provide low-level support to our collaboration with China on their first national X-ray astronomy mission, HXMT, c) To provide support at the early stage of future project studies, for both space and ground based instrumentation Project 6.1 Laboratory Studies of Radiation Damage (1 PDRA) Project 6.2 Radiation Damage support for the HXMT project
Publications
Arab H
(2012)
Evolution of dust in the Orion Bar with Herschel I. Radiative transfer modelling
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Omont A
(2013)
H 2 O emission in high- z ultra-luminous infrared galaxies
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bailey J
(2011)
Magnetic field and atmospheric chemical abundances of the magnetic Ap star HD 318107
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Nguyên Luong Q
(2011)
The Herschel view of massive star formation in G035.39-00.33: dense and cold filament of W48 undergoing a mini-starburst
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Nebot Gómez-Morán A
(2011)
Post common envelope binaries from SDSS XII. The orbital period distribution???
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gebran M
(2010)
Chemical composition of A and F dwarfs members of the Hyades open cluster
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Clark J
(2009)
The binary nature of the Galactic centre X-ray source CXOGC J174536.1-285638
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pezzuto S
(2012)
Herschel observations of B1-bS and B1-bN: two first hydrostatic core candidates in the Perseus star-forming cloud
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Lorenzo J
(2014)
Astrophysical parameters of the peculiar X-ray transient IGR J11215-5952
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Suutarinen A
(2013)
Determination of the far-infrared dust opacity in a prestellar core
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hennemann M
(2012)
The spine of the swan: a Herschel study of the DR21 ridge and filaments in Cygnus X
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Lohr M
(2012)
Period decrease in three SuperWASP eclipsing binary candidates near the short-period limit
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Sadavoy S
(2012)
Herschel observations of a potential core-forming clump: Perseus B1-E
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Schneider N
(2013)
Cluster-formation in the Rosette molecular cloud at the junctions of filaments ( Corrigendum )
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Skillen I
(2009)
The 0.5 M J transiting exoplanet WASP-13b
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Enoch B
(2012)
Transit algorithm performance using real WASP data
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Ertel S
(2012)
A peculiar class of debris disks from Herschel /DUNES A steep fall off in the far infrared
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Palmeirim P
(2013)
Herschel view of the Taurus B211/3 filament and striations: evidence of filamentary growth?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Stiele H
(2011)
The deep XMM-Newton Survey of M 31
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Butters O
(2009)
RXTE confirmation of the intermediate polar status of IGR J15094-6649
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Norton A
(2011)
Short period eclipsing binary candidates identified using SuperWASP
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Eiroa C
(2013)
DUst around NEarby Stars. The survey observational results
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Smalley B
(2011)
SuperWASP observations of pulsating Am stars
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Fujiwara H
(2013)
AKARI/IRC 18 µ m survey of warm debris disks
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Podio L
(2012)
Herschel /PACS observations of young sources in Taurus: the far-infrared counterpart of optical jets
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Ritchie B
(2011)
The VLT-FLAMES survey of massive stars: NGC 346-013 as a test case for massive close binary evolution
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Thi W
(2011)
Detection of CH + emission from the disc around HD 100546
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Ertel S
(2014)
Potential multi-component structure of the debris disk around HIP 17439 revealed by Herschel /DUNES
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Löhne T
(2012)
Modelling the huge, Herschel -resolved debris ring around HD 207129
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Giannini T
(2012)
The Herschel view of the on-going star formation in the Vela-C molecular cloud
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Peretto N
(2012)
The Pipe Nebula as seen with Herschel : formation of filamentary structures by large-scale compression?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Butters O
(2009)
Circular polarization survey of intermediate polars I. Northern targets in the range 17 h < RA < 23 h
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Van Weeren R
(2012)
First LOFAR observations at very low frequencies of cluster-scale non-thermal emission: the case of Abell 2256
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bernard-Salas J
(2012)
Spatial variation of the cooling lines in the Orion Bar from Herschel /PACS
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Sicilia-Aguilar A
(2013)
Protostars, multiplicity, and disk evolution in the Corona Australis region: a Herschel Gould Belt Study
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hill T
(2012)
The M 16 molecular complex under the influence of NGC 6611 Herschel 's perspective of the heating effect on the Eagle Nebula???
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Lohr M
(2013)
One, two, or three stars? An investigation of an unusual eclipsing binary candidate undergoing dramatic period changes
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Tremblin P
(2013)
Pillars and globules at the edges of H ii regions Confronting Herschel observations and numerical simulations?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Sánchez-Gallego J
(2011)
The JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey VI. The distribution of gas and star formation in M 81
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Eiroa C
(2011)
Herschel discovery of a new class of cold, faint debris discs
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Faramaz V
(2014)
Can eccentric debris disks be long-lived? A first numerical investigation and application to ? 2 Reticuli???
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Faedi F
(2011)
WASP-39b: a highly inflated Saturn-mass planet orbiting a late G-type star
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Marshall J
(2011)
A Herschel resolved far-infrared dust ring around HD 207129
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hill T
(2011)
Filaments and ridges in Vela C revealed by Herschel : from low-mass to high-mass star-forming sites
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Ysard N
(2013)
Variation in dust properties in a dense filament of the Taurus molecular complex (L1506)
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Stroud V
(2010)
The eclipsing, double-lined, Of supergiant binary Cygnus OB2-B17
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Butters O
(2010)
The first WASP public data release
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Eiroa C
(2010)
Cold DUst around NEarby Stars (DUNES). First results A resolved exo-Kuiper belt around the solar-like star ? 2 Ret
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Polehampton E
(2010)
The ISO Long Wavelength Spectrometer line spectrum of VY Canis Majoris and other oxygen-rich evolved stars
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Fossati L
(2010)
Explaining the Praesepe blue straggler HD 73666
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
| Description | This supported a varied programme of astronomical research at the Open University. Outputs have been published in peer-reviewed, and unrefereed papers and catalogues. |
| Exploitation Route | These results were rolled into the next Consolidated Grant that was awarded. |
| Sectors | Education |
| Description | As a basis for a number of Television News interviews on different astronomical subjects As part of Open University Teaching material |
| First Year Of Impact | 2009 |
| Sector | Education |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | Edinburgh |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | Theoretical Particle Physics (PPT) Research Group |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Contribution of expertise; also some travel funds for visits of the collaborator to Durham and Glasgow. |
| Collaborator Contribution | A member of Edinburgh University joined an existing project looking at properties of soft gluons in multiparton scattering. This has led to new developments, aided by the combination of complementary expertise. Edinburgh have also contributed with some financial assistance (e.g. accommodation for visits). |
| Impact | So far there have been two published research papers (see publications). |
| Start Year | 2010 |