Dynamical models of the milky way
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
A huge investment is currently being made in surveys of stars in our Galaxy. From the motions of these stars we can in principle determine the distribution in the Galaxy of the mysterious dark matter that comprises more than 80% of the matter in the Universe. From the motions of stars we also expect to be able to reconstruct the way the Galaxy was assembled from smaller units that merged together. To achieve these goals we need sophistcated dynamical models and software that enables us to assess how likely a model is given the measured data. This grant funds the construction of such models and software, and early applications to data from ground-based observatories. Eventually the models will be used to extract the science goals of the European Space Agency's 'Cornerstone Mission' Gaia, which will measure the positions and velocities of a billion stars.
People |
ORCID iD |
| James Binney (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Monari G
(2017)
Distribution functions for resonantly trapped orbits in the Galactic disc
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Binney J
(2010)
Distribution functions for the Milky Way
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Matijevic G
(2010)
DOUBLE-LINED SPECTROSCOPIC BINARY STARS IN THE RAVE SURVEY
in The Astronomical Journal
Binney J
(2014)
Dynamical models and Galaxy surveys
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Binney J
(2013)
Dynamics for galactic archaeology
in New Astronomy Reviews
Nipoti C
(2015)
Early flattening of dark matter cusps in dwarf spheroidal galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Eyre A
(2009)
Fitting orbits to tidal streams with proper motions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Lanzafame A
(2015)
Gaia -ESO Survey: Analysis of pre-main sequence stellar spectra
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Marinacci F
(2011)
Galactic fountains and the rotation of disc-galaxy coronae Rotation of galactic coronae
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Binney J
(2014)
Galactic kinematics and dynamics from Radial Velocity Experiment stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sharma S
(2011)
GALAXIA: A CODE TO GENERATE A SYNTHETIC SURVEY OF THE MILKY WAY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Sormani M
(2015)
Gas flow in barred potentials
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sormani M
(2015)
Gas flow in barred potentials - II. Bar-driven spiral arms
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sormani M
(2015)
Gas flow in barred potentials - III. Effects of varying the quadrupole
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Featherstone K
(2015)
Greece: Greek politics stall research reforms.
in Nature
Anguiano B
(2015)
Identification of globular cluster stars in RAVE data - I. Application to stellar parameter calibration
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kos J
(2014)
Interstellar medium. Pseudo-three-dimensional maps of the diffuse interstellar band at 862 nm.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Fraternali F
(2013)
IONIZED ABSORBERS AS EVIDENCE FOR SUPERNOVA-DRIVEN COOLING OF THE LOWER GALACTIC CORONA
in The Astrophysical Journal
Dora KA
(2016)
Isolated Human Pulmonary Artery Structure and Function Pre- and Post-Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery.
in Journal of the American Heart Association
Sharma S
(2014)
KINEMATIC MODELING OF THE MILKY WAY USING THE RAVE AND GCS STELLAR SURVEYS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Schönrich R
(2010)
Local kinematics and the local standard of rest
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Eyre A
(2009)
Locating the orbits delineated by tidal streams
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Aumer M
(2017)
Migration and kinematics in growing disc galaxies with thin and thick discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Binney J
(2020)
Modelling our galaxy
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Binney James
(2017)
Modelling the Milky Way's globular cluster system
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| Description | STFC studentships |
| Amount | £35,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2009 |
| End | 09/2012 |
| Description | A new generation of Galaxy models |
| Organisation | Max Planck Society |
| Department | Max Planck Institute For Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in dynamical modelling |
| Collaborator Contribution | Participation in several worthwhile papers |
| Impact | The paper Sharma et al in the publications list. Also a contribution to a paper Burnett et al that has been submitted & is under review |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | A new generation of Galaxy models |
| Organisation | University of Sydney |
| Department | School of Physics |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in dynamical modelling |
| Collaborator Contribution | Participation in several worthwhile papers |
| Impact | The paper Sharma et al in the publications list. Also a contribution to a paper Burnett et al that has been submitted & is under review |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Galactic fountains and gas accretion |
| Organisation | University of Bologna |
| Department | Department of Physics and Astronomy |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in dynamical modelling and in the theory of the intergalactic medium |
| Collaborator Contribution | Fellowships to suport work in Oxford by colleagues from Bologna and through this participation in several publications (only 1 of these appeared after the grant start date and a further one has been submitted & is under review) |
| Impact | Several well-cited papers |
| Description | Modelling the chemodynamical evolution of the Milky Way |
| Organisation | Max Planck Society |
| Department | Max Planck Institute For Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in dynamical modelling |
| Collaborator Contribution | Participation in significant papers |
| Impact | We have published three joint papers so far (two in the publication list, one appeared before the grant start date) and several in preparation. These are already widely cited papers |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | School visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I regularly give talks at schools. Sometimes it is to the Physics Society, sometimes it is a talk to 6th formers (although younger pupils often attend too). There are always lots of good questions. Nothing to report |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |
| Description | Talks to local astronomy clubs |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | These events usually attract ~30 people with a wide range of educational backgrounds. There are always plenty of questions, some quite shrewd. Nothing to report |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2011 |