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
Adelman-McCarthy Jennifer K.
(2008)
The Sixth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT SERIES
Frieman J
(2008)
THE SLOAN DIGITAL SKY SURVEY-II SUPERNOVA SURVEY: TECHNICAL SUMMARY
in The Astronomical Journal
Greene C
(2012)
The slowly evolving role of environment in a spectroscopic survey of star formation in M* > 5 × 108 M? galaxies since z ~ 1 Star formation in dwarf galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Carter D
(2011)
The spatial distribution and origin of the FUV excess in early-type galaxies The FUV excess in early-type galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mauduit J
(2012)
The Spitzer Extragalactic Representative Volume Survey (SERVS): Survey De?nition and Goals*
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Mauduit J
(2012)
The Spitzer Extragalactic Representative Volume Survey (SERVS): Survey Definition and Goals ( PASP, 124, 714, [2012] )
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Dunne L
(2009)
The star formation history of K -selected galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Smith R
(2012)
The stellar initial mass function in red-sequence galaxies: 1-µm spectroscopy of Coma cluster galaxies with Subaru/FMOS The stellar IMF in red-sequence galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ueda Yoshihiro
(2008)
THE SUBARU/
XMM-NEWTON DEEP SURVEY (SXDS). III. X-RAY DATA
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT SERIES
Furusawa Hisanori
(2008)
The Subaru/
XMM-Newton deep survey (SXDS).: II.: Optical imaging and photometric catalogs
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT SERIES
Ouchi Masami
(2008)
The Subaru/
XMM-Newton Deep Survey (SXDS).: IV.: Evolution of Lya emitters from
z=3.1 to 5.7 in the 1 deg
2 field:: Luminosity functions and AGN
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT SERIES
Monelli M
(2013)
The SUMO project I. A survey of multiple populations in globular clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Osborne J
(2011)
THE SUPERSOFT X-RAY PHASE OF NOVA RS OPHIUCHI 2006
in The Astrophysical Journal
Krieger N
(2017)
The Survey of Water and Ammonia in the Galactic Center (SWAG): Molecular Cloud Evolution in the Central Molecular Zone
in The Astrophysical Journal
Page K
(2009)
The unusual X-ray light curve of GRB 080307: the onset of the afterglow?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hachinger S
(2013)
The UV/optical spectra of the Type Ia supernova SN 2010jn: a bright supernova with outer layers rich in iron-group elements
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jarvis M
(2013)
The VISTA Deep Extragalactic Observations (VIDEO) survey?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
García-Berro E
(2011)
The white-dwarf cooling sequence of NGC 6791: a unique tool for stellar evolution
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hilton M
(2010)
THE XMM CLUSTER SURVEY: ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI AND STARBURST GALAXIES IN XMMXCS J2215.9-1738 AT z = 1.46
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hilton M
(2012)
The XMM Cluster Survey: evidence for energy injection at high redshift from evolution of the X-ray luminosity-temperature relation Evolution of the L X -T relation from XCS-DR1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sahlén M
(2009)
The XMM Cluster Survey: forecasting cosmological and cluster scaling-relation parameter constraints
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hilton M
(2009)
THE XMM CLUSTER SURVEY: GALAXY MORPHOLOGIES AND THE COLOR-MAGNITUDE RELATION IN XMMXCS J2215.9 - 1738 AT z = 1.46
in The Astrophysical Journal
Mehrtens N
(2012)
The XMM Cluster Survey: optical analysis methodology and the first data release The XMM Cluster Survey first data release
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Stott J
(2010)
THE XMM CLUSTER SURVEY: THE BUILD-UP OF STELLAR MASS IN BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXIES AT HIGH REDSHIFT
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Harrison C
(2012)
THE XMM CLUSTER SURVEY: THE STELLAR MASS ASSEMBLY OF FOSSIL GALAXIES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Lloyd-Davies E
(2010)
The XMM Cluster Survey: X-ray analysis methodology
Lloyd-Davies E
(2011)
The XMM Cluster Survey: X-ray analysis methodology XCS: x-ray analysis methodology
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Morrison C
(2017)
the-wizz: clustering redshift estimation for everyone
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Young D
(2010)
Two type Ic supernovae in low-metallicity, dwarf galaxies: diversity of explosions
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Zamanov R
(2010)
UBVRI observations of the flickering of RS Ophiuchi at quiescence
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
{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
Afonso J
(2011)
ULTRA STEEP SPECTRUM RADIO SOURCES IN THE LOCKMAN HOLE: SERVS IDENTIFICATIONS AND REDSHIFT DISTRIBUTION AT THE FAINTEST RADIO FLUXES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Chiboucas K
(2011)
ULTRA-COMPACT DWARFS IN THE COMA CLUSTER
in The Astrophysical Journal
Madrid J
(2010)
ULTRA-COMPACT DWARFS IN THE CORE OF THE COMA CLUSTER
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Henshaw J
(2017)
Unveiling the early-stage anatomy of a protocluster hub with ALMA
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Gibson N
(2008)
Updated parameters for the transiting exoplanet WASP-3b using RISE, a new fast camera for the Liverpool Telescope
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
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
Collaboration G
(2018)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: 46 open clusters GaiaDR2 HR diagrams (Gaia Collaboration, 2018)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Mehrtens N.
(2018)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: BOSS galaxies in X-ray clusters (Mehrtens+, 2016)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Collaboration G
(2018)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: Gaia DR2 sources in GC and dSph (Gaia Collaboration+, 2018)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Steele I. A.
(2018)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: Polarimetry & photometry of GRB with RINGO2 (Steele+, 2017)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
MAGIC Collaboration MAGIC
(2018)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: S5 0716+714 multi-wavelength curves (MAGIC Collaboration+, 2018)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
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 |