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
Molinari S
(2011)
A 100 pc ELLIPTICAL AND TWISTED RING OF COLD AND DENSE MOLECULAR CLOUDS REVEALED BY HERSCHEL AROUND THE GALACTIC CENTER
in The Astrophysical Journal
Lam M
(2018)
A bottom-up and top-down approach to cloud detection
Bachelet E
(2012)
A brown dwarf orbiting an M-dwarf: MOA 2009-BLG-411L
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Cassisi S
(2011)
A CLASSICAL CEPHEID IN A LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD ECLIPSING BINARY: EVIDENCE OF SHORTCOMINGS IN CURRENT STELLAR EVOLUTIONARY MODELS?
in The Astrophysical Journal
Sumi T
(2010)
A COLD NEPTUNE-MASS PLANET OGLE-2007-BLG-368Lb: Cold neptunes are common
in The Astrophysical Journal
Prasit A
(2018)
A comparison of SOFA and NOVAS astrometric software libraries
Wang J
(2011)
A DEEP CHANDRA ACIS STUDY OF NGC 4151. I. THE X-RAY MORPHOLOGY OF THE 3 kpc DIAMETER CIRCUM-NUCLEAR REGION AND RELATION TO THE COLD INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM
in The Astrophysical Journal
Wang J
(2011)
A DEEP CHANDRA ACIS STUDY OF NGC 4151. II. THE INNERMOST EMISSION LINE REGION AND STRONG EVIDENCE FOR RADIO JET-NLR CLOUD COLLISION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Wang J
(2011)
A DEEP CHANDRA ACIS STUDY OF NGC 4151. III. THE LINE EMISSION AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS OF THE IONIZATION CONE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Heng K
(2008)
A Direct Measurement of the Dust Extinction Curve in an Intermediate-Redshift Galaxy
in The Astrophysical Journal
Yagi M
(2010)
A DOZEN NEW GALAXIES CAUGHT IN THE ACT: GAS STRIPPING AND EXTENDED EMISSION LINE REGIONS IN THE COMA CLUSTER
in The Astronomical Journal
Guidorzi C
(2011)
A faint optical flash in dust-obscured GRB 080603A: implications for GRB prompt emission mechanisms Prompt and afterglow emission of GRB 080603A
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Perets HB
(2010)
A faint type of supernova from a white dwarf with a helium-rich companion.
in Nature
Barnsley R
(2012)
A fully automated data reduction pipeline for the FRODOSpec integral field spectrograph
in Astronomische Nachrichten
Tanvir NR
(2009)
A gamma-ray burst at a redshift of z approximately 8.2.
in Nature
Smith R
(2008)
A large population of recently quenched red-sequence dwarf galaxies in the outskirts of the Coma cluster
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Percival S
(2009)
A LARGE STELLAR EVOLUTION DATABASE FOR POPULATION SYNTHESIS STUDIES. IV. INTEGRATED PROPERTIES AND SPECTRA
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pietrinferni A
(2009)
A LARGE STELLAR EVOLUTION DATABASE FOR POPULATION SYNTHESIS STUDIES. V. STELLAR MODELS AND ISOCHRONES WITH CNONa ABUNDANCE ANTICORRELATIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Salaris M
(2010)
A LARGE STELLAR EVOLUTION DATABASE FOR POPULATION SYNTHESIS STUDIES. VI. WHITE DWARF COOLING SEQUENCES
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Mortlock DJ
(2011)
A luminous quasar at a redshift of z = 7.085.
in Nature
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
Hurley K
(2010)
A new analysis of the short-duration, hard-spectrum GRB 051103, a possible extragalactic soft gamma repeater giant flare
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cirasuolo M
(2010)
A new measurement of the evolving near-infrared galaxy luminosity function out to z â?? 4: a continuing challenge to theoretical models of galaxy formation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Choi J
(2012)
A NEW TYPE OF AMBIGUITY IN THE PLANET AND BINARY INTERPRETATIONS OF CENTRAL PERTURBATIONS OF HIGH-MAGNIFICATION GRAVITATIONAL MICROLENSING EVENTS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Wesson R
(2008)
A Planetary Nebula around Nova V458 Vulpeculae Undergoing Flash Ionization
in The Astrophysical Journal
Sicardy B
(2011)
A Pluto-like radius and a high albedo for the dwarf planet Eris from an occultation.
in Nature
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
Shafter A
(2011)
A SPECTROSCOPIC AND PHOTOMETRIC SURVEY OF NOVAE IN M31
in The Astrophysical Journal
Davies G
(2009)
A spectroscopic measure of the star formation rate density in dwarf galaxies at z ~ 1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
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
Shafter A
(2011)
A SPITZER SURVEY OF NOVAE IN M31
in The Astrophysical Journal
Miyake N
(2011)
A SUB-SATURN MASS PLANET, MOA-2009-BLG-319Lb
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kains N
(2009)
A systematic fitting scheme for caustic-crossing microlensing events
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
Gibson N
(2009)
A TRANSIT TIMING ANALYSIS OF NINE RISE LIGHT CURVES OF THE EXOPLANET SYSTEM TrES-3
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gibson N
(2010)
A transit timing analysis of seven RISE light curves of the exoplanet system HAT-P-3
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hounsell R
(2011)
A very luminous, highly extinguished, very fast nova - V1721 Aquilae
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
García-Berro E
(2010)
A white dwarf cooling age of 8 Gyr for NGC 6791 from physical separation processes.
in Nature
Longmore S
(2017)
Adapting astronomical source detection software to help detect animals in thermal images obtained by unmanned aerial systems
in International Journal of Remote Sensing
Wallström SH
(2017)
ALMA Compact Array observations of the Fried Egg nebula: Evidence for large-scale asymmetric mass-loss from the yellow hypergiant IRAS 17163-3907.
in Astronomy and astrophysics
Csengeri T
(2017)
ALMA survey of massive cluster progenitors from ATLASGAL Limited fragmentation at the early evolutionary stage of massive clumps?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Smith D
(2009)
An 80-kpc Lya halo around a high-redshift type-2 quasi-stellar object
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Roy N
(2012)
An H i shell-like structure associated with nova V458 Vulpeculae? H i structure associated with V458 Vul
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Fathi K
(2011)
AN Ha NUCLEAR SPIRAL STRUCTURE IN THE E0 ACTIVE GALAXY Arp 102B
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Parrent J
(2012)
ANALYSIS OF THE EARLY-TIME OPTICAL SPECTRA OF SN 2011fe IN M101
in The Astrophysical Journal
Dominik M
(2008)
ARTEMiS (Automated Robotic Terrestrial Exoplanet Microlensing Search): A possible expert-system based cooperative effort to hunt for planets of Earth mass and below
in Astronomische Nachrichten
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 |