Astronomy Observation and Theory Consolidated Grant 2016-2019
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Institute of Astronomy
Abstract
This proposal is for a single Consolidated Grant to support the majority of research in Theoretical and Observational Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Institute of Astronomy (IoA) in Cambridge.
The theoretical research profile includes work to understand the origin of the Universe itself. Members of the IoA play a leading role in the European Space Agency Planck mission, and will lead a definitive determination of the parameters that both define the geometry of the Universe and quantify the age, size, dark matter, dark energy and baryonic content. The research links to one of the key goals in astrophysics: constraining the properties of the dark matter and dark energy content of the Universe.
The Universe today is filled with galaxies, of which our own Milky Way is a not atypical example. A full understanding of galaxy formation and evolution requires multiple lines of attack. Observations of the resolved stellar populations in the Milky Way and its Local Group companions provide a detailed fossil record of the dynamical assemblies of the galaxies, the formation of stars, and the buildup of heavy elements over a wide range of mass scales and initial conditions. At the other end of the scale, observations of distant galaxies spanning lookback times of up to 12 Gyr provide direct measurements of the evolution of galaxy populations and the buildup of stars and metals with cosmic time. Finally, measurements of the large-scale star formation and abundance properties of nearby galaxies form a vital astrophysical bridge between the studies of nearby resolved stellar populations and the distant high-redshift investigations, by allowing us to characterise the evolutionary properties of the Hubble sequence and the complex "gastrophysical" processes that regulate the accretion of gas and the formation of stars in galaxies.
It is now recognised that there is an intimate link between the evolution of galaxies and the origin and properties of super-massive black holes, which reside at the centre of the Milky Way and other galaxies. The regions close to black holes allow the exploration of physics at the extremes. The formation and properties of super-massive black holes and their relation to the galaxies in which they reside is a research theme that involves theory, X-ray astrophysics and observational programmes in the grant.
Within galaxies, the grant focuses on star formation, from the giant molecular clouds which give birth to stars, down to the more detailed investigations of the processes that lead to the formation of stars and star clusters within these molecular clouds. The investigations will combine state-of-the-art numerical simulations with analytical theories. The quest to study planetary systems around stars and their formation is another key goal. Research activity in the grant covers theoretical work that concentrates on the properties of exoplanets atmospheres, debris discs, discs of asteroids, cometary objects, and dust surrounding stars.
The theoretical research profile includes work to understand the origin of the Universe itself. Members of the IoA play a leading role in the European Space Agency Planck mission, and will lead a definitive determination of the parameters that both define the geometry of the Universe and quantify the age, size, dark matter, dark energy and baryonic content. The research links to one of the key goals in astrophysics: constraining the properties of the dark matter and dark energy content of the Universe.
The Universe today is filled with galaxies, of which our own Milky Way is a not atypical example. A full understanding of galaxy formation and evolution requires multiple lines of attack. Observations of the resolved stellar populations in the Milky Way and its Local Group companions provide a detailed fossil record of the dynamical assemblies of the galaxies, the formation of stars, and the buildup of heavy elements over a wide range of mass scales and initial conditions. At the other end of the scale, observations of distant galaxies spanning lookback times of up to 12 Gyr provide direct measurements of the evolution of galaxy populations and the buildup of stars and metals with cosmic time. Finally, measurements of the large-scale star formation and abundance properties of nearby galaxies form a vital astrophysical bridge between the studies of nearby resolved stellar populations and the distant high-redshift investigations, by allowing us to characterise the evolutionary properties of the Hubble sequence and the complex "gastrophysical" processes that regulate the accretion of gas and the formation of stars in galaxies.
It is now recognised that there is an intimate link between the evolution of galaxies and the origin and properties of super-massive black holes, which reside at the centre of the Milky Way and other galaxies. The regions close to black holes allow the exploration of physics at the extremes. The formation and properties of super-massive black holes and their relation to the galaxies in which they reside is a research theme that involves theory, X-ray astrophysics and observational programmes in the grant.
Within galaxies, the grant focuses on star formation, from the giant molecular clouds which give birth to stars, down to the more detailed investigations of the processes that lead to the formation of stars and star clusters within these molecular clouds. The investigations will combine state-of-the-art numerical simulations with analytical theories. The quest to study planetary systems around stars and their formation is another key goal. Research activity in the grant covers theoretical work that concentrates on the properties of exoplanets atmospheres, debris discs, discs of asteroids, cometary objects, and dust surrounding stars.
Planned Impact
The Institute of Astronomy ensures all students, postdocs and staff are actively involved both in delivering high value science, and also engaging and stimulating a variety of additional knowledge creation activities, focussing on public awareness, and on applications of research developments in medical, space-industry and commercial spheres.
The University of Cambridge has one of the most successful programmes for nurturing knowledge transfer and resulting economic and societal impact between University departments and industry both in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. The extraordinarily successful Cambridge Science Park is well known, with expertise and ideas from Cambridge Astrophysics being involved in the establishment of several businesses in the Cambridge area.
The IoA's approach to the search for impact opportunities is embedded in the mechanisms that the University has in place to facilitate this. The University's Research Office provides the primary point of contact for corporate liaison, and is actively involved in pursuing impact and knowledge exchange activities and opportunities throughout the University. Cambridge Enterprise, the University's technology transfer and entrepreneurship arm, exists to enhance the University of Cambridge's contribution to society through knowledge transfer from the University to the community. The Institute of Astronomy members interact with these organisations regularly. Engagement with the wider economic community is supported
by a Collaborative Research Facilitator, based in the Cavendish Laboratory, who is able to provide advice on relevant networking and funding opportunities.
In summary, the research carried out at the IoA supported through this will lead to a wide range of impacts across a broad range of areas. From direct and specific impact in the application of analysis techniques to problems in the medical field, in the gaming industry, to inspirational outreach programmes engaging with those teaching the next generation of scientists.
The University of Cambridge has one of the most successful programmes for nurturing knowledge transfer and resulting economic and societal impact between University departments and industry both in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. The extraordinarily successful Cambridge Science Park is well known, with expertise and ideas from Cambridge Astrophysics being involved in the establishment of several businesses in the Cambridge area.
The IoA's approach to the search for impact opportunities is embedded in the mechanisms that the University has in place to facilitate this. The University's Research Office provides the primary point of contact for corporate liaison, and is actively involved in pursuing impact and knowledge exchange activities and opportunities throughout the University. Cambridge Enterprise, the University's technology transfer and entrepreneurship arm, exists to enhance the University of Cambridge's contribution to society through knowledge transfer from the University to the community. The Institute of Astronomy members interact with these organisations regularly. Engagement with the wider economic community is supported
by a Collaborative Research Facilitator, based in the Cavendish Laboratory, who is able to provide advice on relevant networking and funding opportunities.
In summary, the research carried out at the IoA supported through this will lead to a wide range of impacts across a broad range of areas. From direct and specific impact in the application of analysis techniques to problems in the medical field, in the gaming industry, to inspirational outreach programmes engaging with those teaching the next generation of scientists.
Organisations
Publications
Gibbons S
(2017)
A tail of two populations: chemo-dynamics of the Sagittarius stream and implications for its original mass
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gibbons S
(2017)
A tail of two populations: chemo-dynamics of the Sagittarius stream and implications for its original mass
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gibbons S
(2016)
Discy dwarf disruption and the shape of the Galactic halo
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Gillen E
(2020)
NGTS clusters survey - I. Rotation in the young benchmark open cluster Blanco 1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
González Delgado R
(2016)
Star formation along the Hubble sequence Radial structure of the star formation of CALIFA galaxies
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
González-Fernández C
(2018)
The VISTA ZYJHKs photometric system: Calibration from 2MASS
González-Fernández C
(2018)
The VISTA ZYJHKs photometric system: calibration from 2MASS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
González-Fernández C
(2018)
The VISTA ZYJHKs photometric system: calibration from 2MASS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gorti U
(2016)
Disk Dispersal: Theoretical Understanding and Observational Constraints
in Space Science Reviews
Gouliermis D
(2017)
Hierarchical star formation across the grand-design spiral NGC 1566
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gouliermis D
(2017)
Hierarchical star formation across the grand-design spiral NGC 1566
Grady J
(2020)
Age demographics of the Milky Way disc and bulge
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grady J
(2019)
Age gradients throughout the Galaxy with long-period variables
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grand R
(2020)
The dual origin of the Galactic thick disc and halo from the gas-rich Gaia-Enceladus Sausage merger
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grand R
(2020)
The biggest splash
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grasha K
(2019)
The spatial relation between young star clusters and molecular clouds in M51 with LEGUS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grasha K
(2017)
The Hierarchical Distribution of the Young Stellar Clusters in Six Local Star-forming Galaxies
in The Astrophysical Journal
Grasha K
(2018)
Connecting young star clusters to CO molecular gas in NGC 7793 with ALMA-LEGUS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grasha K
(2018)
Connecting young star clusters to CO molecular gas in NGC 7793 with ALMA-LEGUS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gratton S
(2020)
Understanding parameter differences between analyses employing nested data subsets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Greaves J
(2016)
Gas and dust around A-type stars at tens of Myr: signatures of cometary breakup
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Green D
(2021)
Search for radio emission from the exoplanets Qatar-1b and WASP-80b near 150 MHz using the giant metrewave radio telescope
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Green M
(2019)
Phase-resolved spectroscopy of Gaia14aae: line emission from near the white dwarf surface
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Green M
(2020)
Spectroscopic and photometric periods of six ultracompact accreting binaries
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gregory A
(2019)
Kinematics of the Tucana Dwarf Galaxy: an unusually dense dwarf in the Local Group
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Greig B
(2024)
IGM damping wing constraints on the tail end of reionization from the enlarged XQR-30 sample
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grupe D
(2019)
Swift, NuStar and XMM-Newton observations of the NLS1 galaxy RX J2317.8-4422 in an extreme X-ray low flux state
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gruyters P
(2017)
First evidence of multiple populations along the AGB from Strömgren photometry
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Guo Y
(2020)
Metal Enrichment in the Circumgalactic Medium and Lya Halos around Quasars at z ~ 3
in The Astrophysical Journal
Haehnelt M
(2020)
Probing delayed-end reionization histories with the 21-cm LAE cross-power spectrum
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hamer S
(2016)
Optical emission line nebulae in galaxy cluster cores 1: the morphological, kinematic and spectral properties of the sample
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hamer S
(2019)
Discovery of a diffuse optical line emitting halo in the core of the Centaurus cluster of galaxies: line emission outside the protection of the filaments
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hardy R
(2017)
Secondary Eclipses of HAT-P-13b
in The Astrophysical Journal
Harrison J
(2018)
Polluted white dwarfs: constraints on the origin and geology of exoplanetary material
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Harrison J
(2018)
Polluted white dwarfs: constraints on the origin and geology of exoplanetary material
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hawker G
(2019)
High-resolution spectroscopy and high contrast imaging with the ELT: looking for O2 in Proxima b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hawker G
(2018)
Evidence for Multiple Molecular Species in the Hot Jupiter HD 209458b
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Haworth T
(2016)
Rapid radiative clearing of protoplanetary discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Haworth T
(2017)
First evidence of external disc photoevaporation in a low mass star forming region: the case of IM Lup
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Haworth T
(2018)
Where can a Trappist-1 planetary system be produced?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Haworth T
(2016)
Photochemical-dynamical models of externally FUV irradiated protoplanetary discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Haworth T
(2019)
The first multidimensional view of mass loss from externally FUV irradiated protoplanetary discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Haworth T
(2018)
Radiation-pressure-driven sub-Keplerian rotation of the disc around the AGB star L 2 Pup
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Haworth T
(2018)
The FRIED grid of mass-loss rates for externally irradiated protoplanetary discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Haworth T
(2021)
Proplyds in the flame nebula NGC 2024
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| Title | VLT/X-SHOOTER & Keck/ESI spectra of z~5 QSOs |
| Description | VizieR online Data Catalogue associated with article published in journal Astronomical Journal (AAS) with title 'Chasing the tail of cosmic reionization with dark gap statistics in the Ly{alpha} forest over 5 |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/ApJ/923/223 |