UCL Astrophysics Consolidated Grant 2015-2018
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
We now know that not only is our Universe expanding, but that it is expanding at an ever-increasing rate. Fuelled by a mysterious driver
called Dark Energy, galaxies, such as our Milky Way, are rushing away from each other at such enormous acceleration that not even the powerful
force of gravity can hold the universe together.
Researchers in UCL's Astrophysics Group are putting to the test these discoveries with an ambitious programme of research for the coming years.
A map of 300 million galaxies that astronomers will put together using the Dark Energy Survey over the next decade will be combined with a new chart of the Cosmic Microwave Background from the Planck satellite to understand the conditions in the early universe, to detect the tiny mass of the Neutrino particle and to test Einstein's theory of general Relativity on the largest scales. Our astronomers will use the LOFAR radio telescope to study the era long ago when the first stars and galaxies formed and sculpted ionized bubbles within the gas that permeated the Universe.
We will probe how stars form from vast gas and dust clouds and how the chemistry that goes on between the stars affects and controls these
crucial processes, by studying molecules and dust in our own Galaxy, in nearby galaxies, and in distant, very young, galaxies located at the edge
of the Universe.
We will study the lives of massive stars and their deaths in giant explosions called supernovae and how these massive stars enrich the Galaxy
with the gas and dust required to make new stars, new planets and even life itself.
None of this can be done unless astronomers continually improve the instruments with which they carry out their studies of the heavens. UCL's
instrument makers are aiming to create lower cost optics for future infrared telescopes in space and to develop sophisticated new techniques
that can be used to deliver incredibly high angular resolutions on space telescopes observing at infrared wavelengths.
Astronomers need to model the universe that they study with ever more complex mathematical techniques. So UCL's computer experts will generate the sophisticated models, running on supercomputers, that are needed to understand the wealth of observations that are pouring in. They will also generate the basic atomic and molecular data with which to simulate the conditions in the early Universe, in evolving galaxies and in the stars and planetary systems that inhabit the galaxies. These new data will be used in particular to interpret and understand observations of the atmospheres of exoplanets as they pass in front of, and behind, the stars that they orbit.
But all of this will be wasted unless our fellow citizens get to share in the wonder and excitement of our group's work. So we will ensure that our
team members continue to explain their work through talks and lectures, through public events, and through the media, inspiring the next
generation of scientists, helping and challenging industry to develop new technologies, and ensuring that our understanding of the Universe becomes ever deeper and wider.
called Dark Energy, galaxies, such as our Milky Way, are rushing away from each other at such enormous acceleration that not even the powerful
force of gravity can hold the universe together.
Researchers in UCL's Astrophysics Group are putting to the test these discoveries with an ambitious programme of research for the coming years.
A map of 300 million galaxies that astronomers will put together using the Dark Energy Survey over the next decade will be combined with a new chart of the Cosmic Microwave Background from the Planck satellite to understand the conditions in the early universe, to detect the tiny mass of the Neutrino particle and to test Einstein's theory of general Relativity on the largest scales. Our astronomers will use the LOFAR radio telescope to study the era long ago when the first stars and galaxies formed and sculpted ionized bubbles within the gas that permeated the Universe.
We will probe how stars form from vast gas and dust clouds and how the chemistry that goes on between the stars affects and controls these
crucial processes, by studying molecules and dust in our own Galaxy, in nearby galaxies, and in distant, very young, galaxies located at the edge
of the Universe.
We will study the lives of massive stars and their deaths in giant explosions called supernovae and how these massive stars enrich the Galaxy
with the gas and dust required to make new stars, new planets and even life itself.
None of this can be done unless astronomers continually improve the instruments with which they carry out their studies of the heavens. UCL's
instrument makers are aiming to create lower cost optics for future infrared telescopes in space and to develop sophisticated new techniques
that can be used to deliver incredibly high angular resolutions on space telescopes observing at infrared wavelengths.
Astronomers need to model the universe that they study with ever more complex mathematical techniques. So UCL's computer experts will generate the sophisticated models, running on supercomputers, that are needed to understand the wealth of observations that are pouring in. They will also generate the basic atomic and molecular data with which to simulate the conditions in the early Universe, in evolving galaxies and in the stars and planetary systems that inhabit the galaxies. These new data will be used in particular to interpret and understand observations of the atmospheres of exoplanets as they pass in front of, and behind, the stars that they orbit.
But all of this will be wasted unless our fellow citizens get to share in the wonder and excitement of our group's work. So we will ensure that our
team members continue to explain their work through talks and lectures, through public events, and through the media, inspiring the next
generation of scientists, helping and challenging industry to develop new technologies, and ensuring that our understanding of the Universe becomes ever deeper and wider.
Planned Impact
Our Group will continue and develop its current Knowledge Exchange and Outreach programmes, which are described in detail in our 2-page Pathways to Impact document.
For Knowledge Exchange, we will have the professional support of UCL Business (for IP support) and UCL Enterprise (for entrepreneurship training, mentorship and access to venture capital). The transfer of the results of our innovation is being achieved as follows:
(i) By providing accurate and complete molecular data to Industry and to researchers in other fields - this has proved particularly successful with our water and methane line lists, which are extensively used by industry and by modellers of Earth's atmosphere and climate. Current and future applications include the design of high temperature gas sensors; modelling non-thermal rotational distributions of H3+ in storage rings; measuring the refractive index of humid air in the IR; high speed thermometry and tomographic imaging in gas engines; and of course atmospheric models.
(ii) By working through OSL's three main technology transfer firms, Zeeko, OPTICS Glyndyr, through which research level optical design and manufacturing processes are transferred to Industry. They work closely with Industry to establish the link between detailed surface topography and functional performance in order to improve performance or reduce cost, or both. Examples include the semiconductor sector (polishing of large-area display components; the transition to photolithography in the EUV), the defence sector (advanced weapons and surveillance sites; imaging systems for UAVs, head-up displays),
light-weight optics for remote sensing, the high-power laser community (including laser-fusion) and the automobile sector (use of head-up displays in cars).
(iii) By working with commerce, research design labs and other academic areas to produce new technologies, e.g. by enagaging with the new Satellite Applications Catapult on the compact LOw Cost Upper atmosphere Sounder
(LOCUS), which promises to transform the economics of Earth observation missions and provide a cost effective method of monitoring long term trends in the climate.
(iv) By continuing to work with leading IT vendors to test and design new hardware and software solutions which will eventually end up in the marketplace. We are playing a leading role in setting up an Industrial Engagement Database that will connect DiRAC researchers with STFC Innovation and TSB funding calls, TSB Catapult Centre facilitated industrial projects,
and Industry-HEI/RC projects.
Our Outreach Programme will continue to build on its current strong foundations. These include www.ucl.ac.uk/youruniverse/ and www.ucl.ac.uk/star/outreach/themindofuniverse. We have a Work Experience Programme for 16-18-yr-olds and a programme of school visits that provides popular talks on a wide range of topics. Our ULO teaching observatory at Mill
Hill has a regular programme of public open evenings, as well as daytime schools visits, bringing several thousand visitors annually, with a tie-in with the BBC's Stargazing Live. We will continue to draw upon the professional support of the UCL Public Engagement Unit, www.ucl.ac.uk/public-engagement, both in terms of training and access to award-winning events such as 'Science Show-Off' and 'Bright Club'.
We have attracted extensive international media coverage for the discovery at our ULO Observatory of a bright supernova in the nearby M82 galaxy, the closest Type Ia supernova in over 40 years, and for press releases linked to Science and Nature papers on supernova dust and molecules, and on young galaxies at the edge of the Universe, as well as for ESA press releases on Planck results featuring UCL researchers. We will continue our prominent programme of media appearances, talks and podcasts. In engaging with the press, we will continue to have strong support from the MAPS and UCL Communications and Media Relations units.
For Knowledge Exchange, we will have the professional support of UCL Business (for IP support) and UCL Enterprise (for entrepreneurship training, mentorship and access to venture capital). The transfer of the results of our innovation is being achieved as follows:
(i) By providing accurate and complete molecular data to Industry and to researchers in other fields - this has proved particularly successful with our water and methane line lists, which are extensively used by industry and by modellers of Earth's atmosphere and climate. Current and future applications include the design of high temperature gas sensors; modelling non-thermal rotational distributions of H3+ in storage rings; measuring the refractive index of humid air in the IR; high speed thermometry and tomographic imaging in gas engines; and of course atmospheric models.
(ii) By working through OSL's three main technology transfer firms, Zeeko, OPTICS Glyndyr, through which research level optical design and manufacturing processes are transferred to Industry. They work closely with Industry to establish the link between detailed surface topography and functional performance in order to improve performance or reduce cost, or both. Examples include the semiconductor sector (polishing of large-area display components; the transition to photolithography in the EUV), the defence sector (advanced weapons and surveillance sites; imaging systems for UAVs, head-up displays),
light-weight optics for remote sensing, the high-power laser community (including laser-fusion) and the automobile sector (use of head-up displays in cars).
(iii) By working with commerce, research design labs and other academic areas to produce new technologies, e.g. by enagaging with the new Satellite Applications Catapult on the compact LOw Cost Upper atmosphere Sounder
(LOCUS), which promises to transform the economics of Earth observation missions and provide a cost effective method of monitoring long term trends in the climate.
(iv) By continuing to work with leading IT vendors to test and design new hardware and software solutions which will eventually end up in the marketplace. We are playing a leading role in setting up an Industrial Engagement Database that will connect DiRAC researchers with STFC Innovation and TSB funding calls, TSB Catapult Centre facilitated industrial projects,
and Industry-HEI/RC projects.
Our Outreach Programme will continue to build on its current strong foundations. These include www.ucl.ac.uk/youruniverse/ and www.ucl.ac.uk/star/outreach/themindofuniverse. We have a Work Experience Programme for 16-18-yr-olds and a programme of school visits that provides popular talks on a wide range of topics. Our ULO teaching observatory at Mill
Hill has a regular programme of public open evenings, as well as daytime schools visits, bringing several thousand visitors annually, with a tie-in with the BBC's Stargazing Live. We will continue to draw upon the professional support of the UCL Public Engagement Unit, www.ucl.ac.uk/public-engagement, both in terms of training and access to award-winning events such as 'Science Show-Off' and 'Bright Club'.
We have attracted extensive international media coverage for the discovery at our ULO Observatory of a bright supernova in the nearby M82 galaxy, the closest Type Ia supernova in over 40 years, and for press releases linked to Science and Nature papers on supernova dust and molecules, and on young galaxies at the edge of the Universe, as well as for ESA press releases on Planck results featuring UCL researchers. We will continue our prominent programme of media appearances, talks and podcasts. In engaging with the press, we will continue to have strong support from the MAPS and UCL Communications and Media Relations units.
Organisations
Publications
Mendoza Edgar
(2018)
A search for Cyanopolyynes in L1157-B1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Owens A
(2022)
ExoMol line lists - XLVII. Rovibronic molecular line list of the calcium monohydroxide radical (CaOH)
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sánchez C
(2017)
Cosmic voids and void lensing in the Dark Energy Survey Science Verification data
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jeffrey N
(2021)
Dark Energy Survey Year 3 results: Curved-sky weak lensing mass map reconstruction
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jeffrey N
(2018)
Improving weak lensing mass map reconstructions using Gaussian and sparsity priors: application to DES SV
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Salji C
(2015)
The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: constraints on prestellar core properties in Orion A North
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McKemmish L
(2020)
An update to the MARVEL data set and ExoMol line list for 12C2
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Yurchenko S
(2018)
ExoMol line lists XXXI: spectroscopy of lowest eights electronic states of C2
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Yurchenko S
(2024)
ExoMol line lists - LIV. Empirical line lists for AlH and AlD and experimental emission spectroscopy of AlD in A1? ( v = 0, 1, 2)
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wolz L
(2017)
Erasing the Milky Way: new cleaning technique applied to GBT intensity mapping data
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dom
(2018)
Transfer learning for galaxy morphology from one survey to another
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Asgari M
(2018)
Flat-Sky Pseudo-Cls Analysis for Weak Gravitational Lensing
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Molino A
(2017)
CLASH: accurate photometric redshifts with 14 HST bands in massive galaxy cluster cores
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Viti S
(2019)
Nitrogen fractionation in external galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McKemmish L
(2016)
ExoMol line lists - XVIII. The high-temperature spectrum of VO
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Soo J
(2018)
Morpho-z: improving photometric redshifts with galaxy morphology
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Matsuura M
(2016)
The mass-loss rates of red supergiants at low metallicity: detection of rotational CO emission from two red supergiants in the Large Magellanic Cloud
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rivilla V
(2019)
First ALMA maps of HCO, an important precursor of complex organic molecules, towards IRAS 16293-2422
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mant B
(2018)
ExoMol molecular line lists - XXVII. Spectra of C2H4
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ligterink N
(2017)
The ALMA-PILS survey: detection of CH3NCO towards the low-mass protostar IRAS 16293-2422 and laboratory constraints on its formation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Van Uitert E
(2017)
Halo ellipticity of GAMA galaxy groups from KiDS weak lensing
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mowat C
(2017)
The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: A First Look at SCUBA-2 Observations of the Lupus I Molecular Cloud
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Yurchenko S
(2016)
ExoMol molecular line lists - XIII. The spectrum of CaO
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rumble D
(2016)
The JCMT Gould Belt Survey: evidence for radiative heating and contamination in the W40 complex
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Soergel B
(2016)
Detection of the kinematic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect with DES Year 1 and SPT
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Quénard D
(2018)
Chemical modelling of complex organic molecules with peptide-like bonds in star-forming regions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Asad K
(2016)
Polarization leakage in epoch of reionization windows - II. Primary beam model and direction-dependent calibration
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Henghes B
(2021)
Benchmarking and scalability of machine-learning methods for photometric redshift estimation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cawthon R
(2018)
Dark Energy Survey Year 1 Results: calibration of redMaGiC redshift distributions in DES and SDSS from cross-correlations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Köhlinger F
(2019)
A Bayesian quantification of consistency in correlated datasets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
De Looze I
(2017)
The interstellar medium in Andromeda's dwarf spheroidal galaxies - II. Multiphase gas content and ISM conditions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Soumagnac M
(2015)
Star/galaxy separation at faint magnitudes: application to a simulated Dark Energy Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cortese L
(2016)
The selective effect of environment on the atomic and molecular gas-to-dust ratio of nearby galaxies in the Herschel Reference Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Saro A
(2015)
Constraints on the richness-mass relation and the optical-SZE positional offset distribution for SZE-selected clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Piras D
(2018)
The mass dependence of dark matter halo alignments with large-scale structure
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gruen D
(2015)
Weak lensing by galaxy troughs in DES Science Verification data
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mucesh S
(2021)
A machine learning approach to galaxy properties: joint redshift-stellar mass probability distributions with Random Forest
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Piras D
(2018)
The mass dependence of dark matter halo alignments with large-scale structure
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Coutens A
(2018)
Chemical modelling of glycolaldehyde and ethylene glycol in star-forming regions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Yurchenko S
(2018)
ExoMol molecular line lists - XXVI: spectra of SH and NS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Polyansky O
(2018)
ExoMol molecular line lists XXX: a complete high-accuracy line list for water
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Luque E
(2017)
The Dark Energy Survey view of the Sagittarius stream: discovery of two faint stellar system candidates
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hennig C.
(2017)
Galaxy Populations in Massive Galaxy Clusters to z = 1.1: Color Distribution, Concentration, Halo Occupation Number and Red Sequence Fraction
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Owens A
(2018)
ExoMol line lists - XXIX. The rotation-vibration spectrum of methyl chloride up to 1200 K
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Stern C
(2019)
Weak-lensing analysis of SPT-selected galaxy clusters using Dark Energy Survey Science Verification data
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Owens A
(2022)
ExoMol line lists - XLV. Rovibronic molecular line lists of calcium monohydride (CaH) and magnesium monohydride (MgH)
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rawlings J
(2019)
A gas-phase primordial origin of O2 in comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Soo J
(2018)
Morpho-z: improving photometric redshifts with galaxy morphology
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mant B
(2018)
ExoMol molecular line lists - XXVII. Spectra of C2H4
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Köhlinger F
(2017)
KiDS-450: the tomographic weak lensing power spectrum and constraints on cosmological parameters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| Description | Since its inception in April 2015, this grant had produced 850 publications as of March 3rd 2020. The papers cover a large range of science, given that this is a Consolidated Grant having seven different funded projects. The Dark Energy Survey has completed a significant fraction of its survey and has produced a large number of papers which are reflected in the total output of papers for this grant. Large numbers of papers on Herschel and Planck results continue to be published by us, as well as papers on stellar, circumstellar and supernova physics, on astrochemistry and star formation, on molecular data for exoplanet studies, and on astronomical instrumentation studies. |
| Exploitation Route | The results will and have been used to influence the future research carried out by ourselves and other astrophysicists. |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| URL | https://www.darkenergysurvey.org/news-and-results/press-releases/ |
| Description | The Group conducts activities intending to reach out to the public and private sectors and we have collaborations that are leading to technological, scientific or commercial developments, e.g. Tennyson's Exomol programme has established links with Technical University of Denmark and Servomex plc, who use linelist data to model spectra of gas emissions at the top of smokestacks for environmental monitoring. Exomol data also contributes to atmospheric and climate models; Viti has a collaboration with academic chemists to produce experimental and theoretical surface chemistry reaction rates; DES, Planck and Euclid projects are linked to multiple industrial contracts, some of which have UK industrial firms developing processes to meet instrument specifications. We have developed a very active Artists in Residence Programme: http://www.judygoldhill.com/ http://www.janegrisewood.com/ http://andycharalambous.com/ |
| First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
| Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
| Description | UCL Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science and Technologies |
| Amount | £2,695,360 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/P006736/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2017 |
| End | 09/2024 |
| Title | Jovian and Kronian Magnetodisc Field and Guiding Centre Dynamics of Trapped Particles Data |
| Description | Data files and basic Matlab visualisation functionality of Jovian and Kronian UCL magnetodisc model output and guiding centre dynamics of trapped particles data described in the JGR Space Physics paper 2020JA027827 Trapped Particle Motion In Magnetodisk Fields by Guio, P. and Staniland, N. and Achilleos, N. A. and Arridge, C. S.(https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JA027827) |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3749390 |
| Title | Jovian and Kronian Magnetodisc Field and Guiding Centre Dynamics of Trapped Particles Data |
| Description | Data files and basic Matlab visualisation functionality of Jovian and Kronian UCL magnetodisc model output and guiding centre dynamics of trapped particles data described in the JGR Space Physics paper 2020JA027827 Trapped Particle Motion In Magnetodisk Fields by Guio, P. and Staniland, N. and Achilleos, N. A. and Arridge, C. S.(https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JA027827) |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3749389 |
| Title | Duo update |
| Description | Duo is a general variational diiatomic molecule nuclear motion program. It has been updated to provide the inner region of an R-matrix treatment of ultra-low energy collisions. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | Calculations of ultra-low energy collisions: original test on Ar -- Ar |
| URL | https://github.com/Trovemaster/Duo |
| Title | ExoCross |
| Description | A post processor for ExoMol (and HITRAN) data |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | This program is being widely used to post process ExoMol data |
| URL | https://github.com/Trovemaster/exocross |
| Title | TROVE |
| Description | A new version of the code TROVE was developed which explicitly included the symmetry of methane. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Impact | The production of linelists for methane and silane |
| URL | https://github.com/Trovemaster/TROVE |
| Description | The DESI First light was reported in October 2019 on BBC TV News at 10, BBC World Service and other media |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The DES First light was reported in October 2019 on BBC TV News at 10, BBC World Service and other media |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |