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
Steele I
(2018)
Optical polarimetry of KIC 8462852 in 2017 May-August
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Steele I. A.
(2018)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: Polarimetry & photometry of GRB with RINGO2 (Steele+, 2017)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Steele IA
(2009)
Ten per cent polarized optical emission from GRB 090102.
in Nature
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
Stott J
(2010)
THE XMM CLUSTER SURVEY: THE BUILD-UP OF STELLAR MASS IN BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXIES AT HIGH REDSHIFT
in The Astrophysical Journal
Street R
(2013)
MOA-2010-BLG-073L: AN M-DWARF WITH A SUBSTELLAR COMPANION AT THE PLANET/BROWN DWARF BOUNDARY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Sumi T
(2010)
A COLD NEPTUNE-MASS PLANET OGLE-2007-BLG-368Lb: Cold neptunes are common
in The Astrophysical Journal
Tanvir N
(2012)
STAR FORMATION IN THE EARLY UNIVERSE: BEYOND THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG
in The Astrophysical Journal
Tanvir NR
(2009)
A gamma-ray burst at a redshift of z approximately 8.2.
in Nature
Tartaglia L
(2018)
The Early Detection and Follow-up of the Highly Obscured Type II Supernova 2016ija/DLT16am
in The Astrophysical Journal
Taylor E
(2011)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): stellar mass estimates GAMA: stellar mass estimates
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Thomas C
(2008)
Star-forming galaxies in low-redshift clusters: data and integrated galaxy properties
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Thompson M
(2012)
The statistics of triggered star formation: an overdensity of massive young stellar objects around Spitzer bubbles The statistics of triggered star formation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tsapras Y
(2009)
RoboNet-II: Follow-up observations of microlensing events with a robotic network of telescopes
in Astronomische Nachrichten
Ueda Yoshihiro
(2008)
THE SUBARU/
XMM-NEWTON DEEP SURVEY (SXDS). III. X-RAY DATA
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT SERIES
Urquhart J
(2008)
The RMS survey 13 CO observations of candidate massive YSOs in the northern Galactic plane
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
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
Urquhart J
(2009)
The RMS survey H 2 O masers towards a sample of southern hemisphere massive YSO candidates and ultra compact HII regions
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
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
Urquhart J
(2011)
The Red MSX Source survey: ammonia and water maser analysis of massive star-forming regions? NH3 and H2O maser analysis of MSFRs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Urquhart J
(2013)
ATLASGAL - environments of 6.7 GHz methanol masers
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Urquhart J
(2009)
The RMS survey 6 cm continuum VLA observations towards candidate massive YSOs in the northern hemisphere
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Van Breukelen C
(2009)
Evidence of a link between the evolution of clusters and their AGN fraction
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Van Kampen E
(2012)
Herschel -ATLAS/GAMA: spatial clustering of low-redshift submm galaxies Herschel -ATLAS/GAMA clustering at low z
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Vardoulaki E
(2008)
Radio imaging of the Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Field - II. The 37 brightest radio sources
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Vaytet N
(2011)
SWIFT OBSERVATIONS OF THE 2006 OUTBURST OF THE RECURRENT NOVA RS OPHIUCHI. III. X-RAY SPECTRAL MODELING
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
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
Viana P
(2013)
The XMM Cluster Survey: Present status and latest results
in Astronomische Nachrichten
Walker D
(2018)
Star formation in a high-pressure environment: an SMA view of the Galactic Centre dust ridge
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Wang J
(2010)
EXTENDED X-RAY EMISSION IN THE H I CAVITY OF NGC 4151: GALAXY-SCALE ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS FEEDBACK?
in The Astrophysical Journal
Wang J
(2009)
THE HIGHEST RESOLUTION CHANDRA VIEW OF PHOTOIONIZATION AND JET-CLOUD INTERACTION IN THE NUCLEAR REGION OF NGC 4151
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. 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
(2010)
Chandra High Resolution Imaging of NGC 1365 and NGC 4151
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
Wang X
(2009)
THE GOLDEN STANDARD TYPE Ia SUPERNOVA 2005cf: OBSERVATIONS FROM THE ULTRAVIOLET TO THE NEAR-INFRARED WAVEBANDS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Wesson R
(2008)
A Planetary Nebula around Nova V458 Vulpeculae Undergoing Flash Ionization
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Whitaker J
(2017)
MALT90 Kinematic Distances to Dense Molecular Clumps
in The Astronomical Journal
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
Wijesinghe D
(2011)
GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies UV spectral slope and obscuration
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wijesinghe D
(2012)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): galaxy environments and star formation rate variations Galaxy environments
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wijesinghe D
(2011)
Galaxy and mass assembly (GAMA): dust obscuration in galaxies and their recent star formation histories Obscuration in galaxies and SFHs
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
Windhorst R
(2011)
THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE WIDE FIELD CAMERA 3 EARLY RELEASE SCIENCE DATA: PANCHROMATIC FAINT OBJECT COUNTS FOR 0.2-2 µm WAVELENGTH
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Wright A
(2017)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the galaxy stellar mass function to z = 0.1 from the r-band selected equatorial regions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
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 |