Astrophysics Research at Liverpool John Moores University
Lead Research Organisation:
Liverpool John Moores University
Department Name: Astrophysics Research Institute
Abstract
We propose to carry out a programme of research tackling cutting-edge astrophysical problems on a wide range of scales. Our work, which addresses several of PPARC's key scientific priorities, will be conducted under two main and interlinked themes: (i) Tme Domain Astrophysics (ii) Galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei. In particular we wish to explore: the origin and wider importance of Gamma Ray Bursts, the most powerful explosions in the Universe; the fundamental properties of novae from observations of their explosions in our own and other galaxies; the structure of the Milky Way through microlensing studies; the environmental factors that influence galaxy evolution, and the part played in the development of galaxies by supermassive black holes. Our research uses the most advanced ground-based telescopes, space-borne satellites and data analysis tecniques to carry out observations from gamma rays to radio wavelengths and ARI staff are leading players in many of the new generation surveys. A significant fraction of our work involves time-domain studies, now made possible through our own robotic Liverpool Telescope project and our lead in developing global robotic telescope networks such as RoboNet. These projects are technically demanding and are supported at ARI by the latest developments in scheduling and robotic control software through e-Science programmes. The structure and organisation of the ARI is designed to deliver internationally excellent research, with efficient teaching programmes. Staff benefit from a continual programme of investment in research infrastructure and the ARI is a major international player in developing and exploiting outreach opportunities. The Institute in turn enjoys excellent support from the University which has enabled, for example, the recent appointment of several new staff to strenghten further our research work.
Publications
Barros S
(2011)
A lower mass for the exoplanet WASP-21b A lower mass for the exoplanet WASP-21b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Maciejewski W
(2013)
How to recover both velocity components in discs of barred galaxies with integral-field spectroscopy
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Page K
(2009)
Multiwavelength observations of the energetic GRB 080810: detailed mapping of the broad-band spectral evolution
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hidas M
(2010)
An ingress and a complete transit of HD 80606 b Ingress and complete transit of HD 80606 b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wijesinghe D
(2012)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): galaxy environments and star formation rate variations Galaxy environments
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Baldry I
(2008)
On the galaxy stellar mass function, the massmetallicity relation and the implied baryonic mass function
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Häußler B
(2013)
MegaMorph - multiwavelength measurement of galaxy structure: complete Sérsic profile information from modern surveys
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dunne L
(2009)
The star formation history of K -selected galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Holoien T
(2017)
The ASAS-SN bright supernova catalogue - I. 2013-2014
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wilcox H
(2015)
The XMM Cluster Survey: testing chameleon gravity using the profiles of clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jarvis M
(2010)
Herschel-ATLAS: the far-infrared-radio correlation at z < 0.5? The far-infrared-radio correlation at z < 0.5
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Capozzi D
(2012)
The evolution of K* and the halo occupation distribution since z= 1.5: observations versus simulations The evolution of K* and the HOD since z= 1.5
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gilbank D
(2011)
A spectroscopic measurement of galaxy formation time-scales with the Redshift One LDSS3 Emission line Survey ROLES z~ 1 SSFR-mass
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Elia D
(2017)
The Hi-GAL compact source catalogue - I. The physical properties of the clumps in the inner Galaxy (-71$_{.}^{\circ}$0 < l < 67$_{.}^{\circ}$0)
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Priestley W
(2011)
On the evolution of intracluster gas within Galactic globular clusters Gas evolution in Galactic GCs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Clements D
(2008)
The SCUBA Half-Degree Extragalactic Survey (SHADES) - VIII. The nature of faint submillimetre galaxies in SHADES, SWIRE and SXDF surveys
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sahlén M
(2009)
The XMM Cluster Survey: forecasting cosmological and cluster scaling-relation parameter constraints
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kelvin L
(2012)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): Structural Investigation of Galaxies via Model Analysis GAMA: sigma
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Van Kampen E
(2012)
Herschel -ATLAS/GAMA: spatial clustering of low-redshift submm galaxies Herschel -ATLAS/GAMA clustering at low z
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Taylor E
(2011)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): stellar mass estimates GAMA: stellar mass estimates
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mucciarelli A
(2012)
Giants reveal what dwarfs conceal: Li abundance in lower red giant branch stars as diagnostic of the primordial Li? Li abundance in lower RGB stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Thompson M
(2012)
The statistics of triggered star formation: an overdensity of massive young stellar objects around Spitzer bubbles The statistics of triggered star formation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ivory C
(2011)
Spectroscopic confirmation of Ha-selected satellite galaxies Spectroscopy of satellite galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bradshaw E
(2011)
Environments of active galactic nuclei at z < 1.5 in the UKIDSS Ultra-Deep Survey AGN environments at z < 1.5 in the UKIDSS UDS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Melandri A
(2009)
Evidence for energy injection and a fine-tuned central engine at optical wavelengths in GRB 070419A
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Page K
(2009)
The unusual X-ray light curve of GRB 080307: the onset of the afterglow?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Muldrew S
(2012)
Measures of galaxy environment - I. What is 'environment'? What is galaxy environment?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Simpson C
(2013)
Erratum: The luminosity dependence of the type 1 active galactic nucleus fraction
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
James P
(2011)
On the scarcity of Magellanic Cloud like satellites Magellanic satellite galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Chomiuk L
(2018)
Multiwavelength observations of nova SMCN 2016-10a - one of the brightest novae ever observed
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ellison S
(2009)
The mass-metallicity relation in galaxy clusters: the relative importance of cluster membership versus local environment
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Magliocchetti M
(2007)
On the evolution of clustering of 24-µm-selected galaxies The evolution of clustering of 24-µm-selected galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hilton M
(2012)
The XMM Cluster Survey: evidence for energy injection at high redshift from evolution of the X-ray luminosity-temperature relation Evolution of the L X -T relation from XCS-DR1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Littlejohns O
(2012)
The origin of the early-time optical emission of Swift GRB 080310? The early-time emission of GRB 080310
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Starling R
(2011)
Discovery of the nearby long, soft GRB 100316D with an associated supernova Discovery of GRB 100316D
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Barnes A
(2017)
Star formation rates and efficiencies in the Galactic Centre
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Capozzi D
(2010)
The ratio of luminous to faint red-sequence galaxies in X-ray and optically selected low-redshift clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Finoguenov A
(2010)
X-ray groups and clusters of galaxies in the Subaru-XMM Deep Field
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Holoien T
(2017)
The ASAS-SN Bright Supernova Catalog - II. 2015
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Van Breukelen C
(2009)
Evidence of a link between the evolution of clusters and their AGN fraction
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mortlock D
(2012)
Probabilistic selection of high-redshift quasars Probabilistic quasar selection
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cano Z
(2011)
A tale of two GRB-SNe at a common redshift of z=0.54 A tale of two GRB-SNe
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Monelli M
(2013)
The SUMO project I. A survey of multiple populations in globular clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Longmore S
(2017)
H2O Southern Galactic Plane Survey (HOPS): Paper III - properties of dense molecular gas across the inner Milky Way
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Agius N
(2013)
GAMA/H-ATLAS: linking the properties of submm detected and undetected early-type galaxies - I. z = 0.06 sample
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Smith D
(2010)
When galaxies collide: understanding the broad absorption-line radio galaxy 4C +72.26
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Smith D
(2011)
Herschel-ATLAS: counterparts from the ultraviolet-near-infrared in the science demonstration phase catalogue? Herschel-ATLAS: counterparts
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Page K
(2010)
Swift observations of the X-ray and UV evolution of V2491 Cyg (Nova Cyg 2008 No. 2)
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Small E
(2013)
Star formation histories of resolved galaxies - I. The method
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Driver S
(2011)
Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): survey diagnostics and core data release GAMA
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| Title | Robotic Control Software |
| Description | software developed to run the liverpool telescope in an autonomous fashion was licensed under GPL and released to Las Cumbres Observatory in return for 1200 hours guarenteed time on their telesopes. |
| IP Reference | |
| Protection | Copyrighted (e.g. software) |
| Year Protection Granted | 2007 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | The robotic software is of course key to the whole operation of the telescope- without it the majority of the scientific papers produced would not have been possible. |
| Description | Input to Parliamentary Inquiry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Provision of evidence and acting as expert witness for House of Commons S&T Committee Inquiry into astronomy and particle physics. Recommendations in final report supporting the Liverpool Telescope and National Schools' Observatory. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | National Schools Observatory |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Enhanced interest and uptake of STEM subjects Increasing schools registration on NSO - more than 4000 currently |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | Pre-2006,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |
| URL | http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk/ |
| Description | National Schools' Observatory in FE Colleges |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 500 FE College lecturers and their students engaged with astronomical research using the Liverpool Telescope and resources of the NSO website. Over all NSO activity (Primary, Secondary, FE) over the period: 30,000 observing requests were delivered and just under 3,000,000 educational webpages viewed. This is in addition to the engagement activity entered into eVal for the previous period. www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013 |
| Description | National Schools' Observatory in Primary Schools |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 1000 Primary school teachers and their pupils engaged with astronomical research using the Liverpool Telescope and resources of the NSO website. Over all NSO activity (Primary, Secondary, FE) over the period: 30,000 observing requests were delivered and just under 3,000,000 educational webpages viewed. This is in addition to the engagement activity entered into eVal for the previous period. www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013 |
| Description | National Schools' Observatory in Secondary Schools |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 2500 Secondary school teachers and their pupils engaged with astronomical research using the Liverpool Telescope and resources of the NSO website. Over all NSO activity (Primary, Secondary, FE) over the period: 30,000 observing requests were delivered and just under 3,000,000 educational webpages viewed. This is in addition to the engagement activity entered into eVal for the previous period www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013 |
| Description | Press coverage relating to the Liverpool Telescope |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Paper Presentation |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | 12+ significant stories covered by the media through press releases related to the Liverpool Telescope. This is in addition to the outputs reported for the previous period through eVal. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013 |
| Description | School and Public Talks |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 50+ public talks and 200+ schools talks based around science from the Liverpool Telescope. This is in addition to data entered through eVal for the previous period. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013 |
| Description | TV and radio coverage |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Contributions to TV and radio broadcasts featuring LIverpool Telescope science. Total 20+ in this reporting period. This is in addition to the outputs reported for the previous period through eVal. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013 |