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
Guidorzi C.
(2018)
GRB 180809B: LCO Sutherland observations.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Guidorzi C.
(2018)
GRB 180703A: LCO Sutherland possible optical candidate.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Martone R.
(2018)
GRB 181022A: LCO Sutherland observations.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Guidorzi C.
(2018)
GRB 180720C: LT observations.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Guidorzi C.
(2018)
GRB 180402A: LCO McDonald observations.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Guidorzi C.
(2018)
GRB 180325A: prompt LT observations.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Guidorzi C.
(2018)
GRB 180404A: LCO FTS observations.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Guidorzi C.
(2018)
GRB 180404B: LCO FTS observations.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Guidorzi C.
(2018)
GRB 180703A: optical afterglow confirmation.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Guidorzi C.
(2018)
GRB 180103A: LCO Sutherland 1-m telescope observations.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Guidorzi C.
(2018)
GRB 180329B: LCO FTS observations.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Guidorzi C.
(2018)
GRB 180715A: LCO Sutherland possible optical candidate.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Cucchiara A.
(2018)
GRB 181020A: LCO Cerro Tololo observations.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Martone R.
(2018)
GRB 180316A: LCO Cerro Tololo observations.
in GRB Coordinates Network
{Zamanov}, R. And {Boeva}, S. And {Latev}, G. And {Stoyanov}, K. And {Bode}, M.~F. And {Antov}, A. And {Bachev}, R.
(2011)
UBVRI observations of the flickering of the symbiotic star MWC 560
in Information Bulletin on Variable Stars
KOBAYASHI S
(2012)
POLARIZATION IN VERY EARLY GAMMA-RAY BURST AFTERGLOW
in International Journal of Modern Physics: Conference Series
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
Kawamura S
(2008)
The Japanese space gravitational wave antenna; DECIGO
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Sato S
(2009)
DECIGO: The Japanese space gravitational wave antenna
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Kawamura S
(2008)
The Japanese space gravitational wave antenna - DECIGO
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Dalessandro E
(2011)
The peculiar horizontal branch of NGC 2808 The peculiar horizontal branch of NGC 2808
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Smith R
(2010)
Ultraviolet tails and trails in cluster galaxies: a sample of candidate gaseous stripping events in Coma Gaseous stripping candidates in Coma
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
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
Loveday J
(2012)
Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): ugriz galaxy luminosity functions GAMA luminosity functions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Li I
(2011)
Dependence of star formation activity on stellar mass and environment from the Redshift One LDSS-3 Emission line Survey SFR at z~ 1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gunawardhana M
(2011)
Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): the star formation rate dependence of the stellar initial mass function IMF-SFR relationship
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Loveday J
(2018)
Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): small-scale anisotropic galaxy clustering and the pairwise velocity dispersion of galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Urquhart J
(2011)
The Red MSX Source survey: distribution and properties of a sample of massive young stars Properties of sites of massive star formation
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
Holoien T
(2017)
The ASAS-SN bright supernova catalogue - I. 2013-2014
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hardcastle M
(2010)
Herschel-ATLAS: far-infrared properties of radio-selected galaxies? Herschel-ATLAS: radio-selected galaxies
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
Carter D
(2009)
Optical and near-infrared colours as a discriminant of the age and metallicity of stellar populations
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
Cody A
(2009)
Velocity dispersion measurements of dwarf galaxies in the Coma cluster - implications for the structure of the fundamental plane
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McQuillin R
(2012)
Novae in the SuperWASP data base Novae in the SuperWASP data base
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
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
Prescott M
(2009)
Evolution of the u -band luminosity function from redshift 1.2 to 0
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Williams S
(2017)
Multiwavelength observations of the 2015 nova in the Local Group irregular dwarf galaxy IC 1613
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
Alpaslan M
(2012)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): estimating galaxy group masses via caustic analysis Galaxy group masses via caustic analysis
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
Barnes A
(2017)
Star formation rates and efficiencies in the Galactic Centre
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gilbank D
(2011)
Erratum: The local star formation rate density: assessing calibrations using [O ii], Ha and UV luminosities Erratum
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
Smith D
(2010)
When galaxies collide: understanding the broad absorption-line radio galaxy 4C +72.26
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Owers M
(2017)
The SAMI Galaxy Survey: the cluster redshift survey, target selection and cluster properties
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
| 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 |