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

McMillan P
(2013)
Analysing surveys of our Galaxy - II. Determining the potential
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Sanders J
(2013)
Stream-orbit misalignment - I. The dangers of orbit-fitting
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Marasco A.
(2012)
Supernova-driven gas accretion in the Milky Way
in Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc.

McMillan Paul J.
(2012)
Analysing surveys of our Galaxy I: basic astrometric data
in Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc.

Schönrich R
(2012)
A new formula for disc kinematics A new formula for disc kinematics
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Schönrich R
(2012)
The detection and treatment of distance errors in kinematic analyses of stars The detection and treatment of distance errors
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

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
(2012)
More dynamical models of our Galaxy More dynamical models of our Galaxy
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Siebert A
(2011)
THE RADIAL VELOCITY EXPERIMENT (RAVE): THIRD DATA RELEASE
in The Astronomical Journal

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

Sharma S
(2011)
GALAXIA: A CODE TO GENERATE A SYNTHETIC SURVEY OF THE MILKY WAY
in The Astrophysical Journal

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
(2011)
Models of our Galaxy - II Models of our Galaxy - II
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Siebert A
(2011)
Detection of a radial velocity gradient in the extended local disc with RAVE A velocity gradient in the Galactic disc
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Burnett B
(2011)
Distance determination for RAVE stars using stellar models III. The nature of the RAVE survey and Milky Way chemistry
in Astronomy & Astrophysics

Eyre A
(2011)
The mechanics of tidal streams The mechanics of tidal streams
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Williams M
(2011)
THE DAWNING OF THE STREAM OF AQUARIUS IN RAVE
in The Astrophysical Journal

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

Matijevic G
(2010)
DOUBLE-LINED SPECTROSCOPIC BINARY STARS IN THE RAVE SURVEY
in The Astronomical Journal

Fulbright J
(2010)
THE RAVE SURVEY: RICH IN VERY METAL-POOR STARS
in The Astrophysical Journal

Ruchti G
(2010)
ORIGINS OF THE THICK DISK AS TRACED BY THE ALPHA ELEMENTS OF METAL-POOR GIANT STARS SELECTED FROM RAVE
in The Astrophysical Journal

McMillan P
(2010)
The uncertainty in Galactic parameters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Burnett B
(2010)
Stellar distances from spectroscopic observations: a new technique Distances from stellar spectra
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
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 |