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
Viana P
(2012)
The XMM Cluster Survey: predicted overlap with the Planck Cluster Catalogue XCS and the Planck Cluster Catalogue
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Simpson C
(2012)
Radio imaging of the Subaru/XMM-NewtonDeep Field- III. Evolution of the radio luminosity function beyond z= 1 Radio imaging of the SXDF - III.
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mauduit J
(2012)
The Spitzer Extragalactic Representative Volume Survey (SERVS): Survey De?nition and Goals*
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Harrison C
(2012)
THE XMM CLUSTER SURVEY: THE STELLAR MASS ASSEMBLY OF FOSSIL GALAXIES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Balaguera-AntolÃnez A
(2012)
Constructing mock catalogues for the REFLEX II galaxy cluster sample Mock catalogues for the REFLEX II sample
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mauduit J
(2012)
The Spitzer Extragalactic Representative Volume Survey (SERVS): Survey Definition and Goals ( PASP, 124, 714, [2012] )
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Bufano F
(2012)
THE HIGHLY ENERGETIC EXPANSION OF SN 2010bh ASSOCIATED WITH GRB 100316D
in The Astrophysical Journal
Evans A
(2012)
Infrared observations of the recurrent nova T Pyxidis: ancient dust basks in the warm glow of the 2011 outburst
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Stott J
(2012)
The XMM Cluster Survey: the interplay between the brightest cluster galaxy and the intracluster medium via AGN feedback BCG AGN feedback and the ICM
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Smith R
(2012)
The stellar initial mass function in red-sequence galaxies: 1-µm spectroscopy of Coma cluster galaxies with Subaru/FMOS The stellar IMF in red-sequence galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bachelet E
(2012)
MOA 2010-BLG-477Lb: CONSTRAINING THE MASS OF A MICROLENSING PLANET FROM MICROLENSING PARALLAX, ORBITAL MOTION, AND DETECTION OF BLENDED LIGHT
in The Astrophysical Journal
Robotham A
(2012)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): in search of Milky Way Magellanic Cloud analogues GAMA: in search of MMAs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kobayashi S
(2012)
EJECTION AND CAPTURE DYNAMICS IN RESTRICTED THREE-BODY ENCOUNTERS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Polychroni D
(2012)
The gas properties of the W3 giant molecular cloud: a HARP study The gas properties of the W3 GMC
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Maguire K
(2012)
Hubble Space Telescope studies of low-redshift Type Ia supernovae: evolution with redshift and ultraviolet spectral trends NUV observations of SNe Ia
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Foster C
(2012)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the mass-metallicity relationship
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Greene C
(2012)
The slowly evolving role of environment in a spectroscopic survey of star formation in M* > 5 × 108 M? galaxies since z ~ 1 Star formation in dwarf galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wiersema K
(2012)
Detailed optical and near-infrared polarimetry, spectroscopy and broad-band photometry of the afterglow of GRB 091018: polarization evolution Polarimetry of the afterglow of GRB 091018
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Urquhart J
(2012)
The RMS survey: resolving kinematic distance ambiguities towards a sample of compact H ii regions using H i absorption? Resolving KDAs towards H ii regions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Baldry I
(2012)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the galaxy stellar mass function at z < 0.06 GAMA: the galaxy stellar mass function
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Venemans B
(2012)
DETECTION OF ATOMIC CARBON [C II] 158 µm AND DUST EMISSION FROM A z = 7.1 QUASAR HOST GALAXY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Mehrtens N
(2012)
The XMM Cluster Survey: optical analysis methodology and the first data release The XMM Cluster Survey first data release
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Shin I
(2012)
MICROLENSING BINARIES WITH CANDIDATE BROWN DWARF COMPANIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Moore T
(2012)
The effect of spiral arms on star formation in the Galaxy The effect of spiral arms on star formation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dib S
(2012)
THE LESSER ROLE OF SHEAR IN GALACTIC STAR FORMATION: INSIGHT FROM THE GALACTIC RING SURVEY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kourkchi E
(2012)
Dwarf galaxies in the Coma cluster - II. Spectroscopic and photometric fundamental planes?†Coma dwarf galaxies - II. Fundamental Plane
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Maxwell M
(2012)
The helium abundance in the ejecta of U Scorpii The helium abundance in the ejecta of U Scorpi
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bourne N
(2012)
Herschel?-ATLAS/GAMA: a census of dust in optically selected galaxies from stacking at submillimetre wavelengths H-ATLAS/GAMA: dust in optically selected galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Musella I
(2012)
STELLAR ARCHEOLOGY IN THE GALACTIC HALO WITH ULTRA-FAINT DWARFS. VII. HERCULES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Christodoulou L
(2012)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): colour- and luminosity-dependent clustering from calibrated photometric redshifts GAMA clustering using photometric redshifts
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Miyake N
(2012)
A POSSIBLE BINARY SYSTEM OF A STELLAR REMNANT IN THE HIGH-MAGNIFICATION GRAVITATIONAL MICROLENSING EVENT OGLE-2007-BLG-514
in The Astrophysical Journal
Melandri A
(2012)
The optical SN 2012bz associated with the long GRB 120422A
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Choi J
(2012)
CHARACTERIZING LENSES AND LENSED STARS OF HIGH-MAGNIFICATION SINGLE-LENS GRAVITATIONAL MICROLENSING EVENTS WITH LENSES PASSING OVER SOURCE STARS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Roy N
(2012)
An H I shell-like structure associated with nova V458 Vulpeculae?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Westoby P
(2012)
A MAGELLAN-IMACS-IFU SEARCH FOR DYNAMICAL DRIVERS OF NUCLEAR ACTIVITY. I. REDUCTION PIPELINE AND GALAXY CATALOG
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Camero-Arranz A
(2012)
X-RAY AND OPTICAL OBSERVATIONS OF A 0535+26
in The Astrophysical Journal
Shafter A
(2012)
ON THE SPECTROSCOPIC CLASSES OF NOVAE IN M33
in The Astrophysical Journal
Loveday J
(2012)
Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): ugriz galaxy luminosity functions GAMA luminosity functions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tanvir N
(2012)
STAR FORMATION IN THE EARLY UNIVERSE: BEYOND THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG
in The Astrophysical Journal
Shin I
(2012)
MICROLENSING BINARIES DISCOVERED THROUGH HIGH-MAGNIFICATION CHANNEL
in The Astrophysical Journal
McQuillin R
(2012)
Novae in the SuperWASP data base Novae in the SuperWASP data base
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grootes M
(2013)
GAMA/H-ATLAS: THE DUST OPACITY-STELLAR MASS SURFACE DENSITY RELATION FOR SPIRAL GALAXIES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Ilee J
(2013)
CO bandhead emission of massive young stellar objects: determining disc properties?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Driver S
(2013)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the 0.013 < z < 0.1 cosmic spectral energy distribution from 0.1 m to 1 mm
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Robotham A
(2013)
Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): Optimal Tiling of Dense Surveys with a Multi-Object Spectrograph
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
Hardcastle M
(2013)
Herschel-ATLAS/GAMA: a difference between star formation rates in strong-line and weak-line radio galaxies?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cooper H
(2013)
The RMS survey: near-IR spectroscopy of massive young stellar objects
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
Street R
(2013)
MOA-2010-BLG-073L: AN M-DWARF WITH A SUBSTELLAR COMPANION AT THE PLANET/BROWN DWARF BOUNDARY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Häußler B
(2013)
MegaMorph - multiwavelength measurement of galaxy structure: complete Sérsic profile information from modern surveys
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 |