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
Binney J
(2020)
Trapped orbits and solar-neighbourhood kinematics
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
Schönrich R
(2012)
A new formula for disc kinematics A new formula for disc kinematics
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Siebert A
(2012)
The properties of the local spiral arms from RAVE data: two-dimensional density wave approach The local spiral structure with RAVE
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Binney J
(2020)
Angle-action variables for orbits trapped at a Lindblad resonance
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McMillan P
(2013)
Analysing surveys of our Galaxy - II. Determining the potential
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
Binney J
(2014)
New distances to RAVE stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Binney J
(2017)
Modelling the Milky Way's globular cluster system
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Binney J
(2015)
Torus mapper: a code for dynamical models of galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kiss L
(2011)
A search for new members of the ß Pictoris, Tucana-Horologium and e Cha moving groups in the RAVE data base New members of young moving groups
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Marinacci F
(2010)
The mode of gas accretion on to star-forming galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Binney J
(2012)
Actions for axisymmetric potentials Actions for axisymmetric potentials
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cole D
(2017)
A centrally heated dark halo for our Galaxy
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Binney J
(2018)
The origin of the Gaia phase-plane spiral
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Binney J
(2011)
Models of our Galaxy - II Models of our Galaxy - II
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
Piffl T
(2015)
Bringing the Galaxy's dark halo to life
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wilson M
(2011)
Testing formation mechanisms of the Milky Way's thick disc with RAVE Testing thick disc formation mechanisms
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Monari G
(2017)
Distribution functions for resonantly trapped orbits in the Galactic disc
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Schönrich R
(2009)
Origin and structure of the Galactic disc(s)
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Aumer M
(2016)
The quiescent phase of galactic disc growth
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wojno J
(2017)
The selection function of the RAVE survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kordopatis G
(2015)
The rich are different: evidence from the RAVE survey for stellar radial migration
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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 |