High Energy Astrophysics at Southampton
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Sch of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
On the stellar scale we are interested in the significance of different environments on the evolution of high mass X-ray binary (HMXB) populations, in particular between the Milky Way and the SMC, where differing star formation rates and metallicities could be crucial. What are the relative importances of local and interstellar obscuration in what we see? Here the upcoming 2Msec INTEGRAL Key Programme observation of the SMC, almost unaffected by obscuration, will be of great value. Globular clusters are outstanding laboratories for studying stellar dynamics and stellar evolution, especially for understanding the most exotic stellar populations. We are drawing together observations of large samples of globular clusters to understand which cluster properties are most important for the production of these exotic stars, and comparing with low stellar density dwarf spheroidal galaxies to isolate the stellar evolution from stellar dynamics. The Netherlands-based low frequency radio array, LOFAR, is about to open a new window on the universe providing the first radio `all sky monitor'. We will study coherent radio bursts, perhaps associated with merging neutron stars, detectable at enormous distances (to z=7), providing a unique probe of the intergalactic medium and possibly even testing theories of gravity and cosmological distance scales via identification of LIGO inspiral events We will continue our research into the coupling between accretion and outflow (jets) in X-ray binaries, and how it relates to parallel processes in AGN (where scaling laws with black hole mass are established), accreting neutron stars and white dwarfs. We have amassed the first comprehensive database of black hole spectral states and will extend this analysis to include X-ray timing and radio results. Thus we will produce the most comprehensive analysis to date of the relation between black hole accretion flows and the formation and power of relativistic jets. The results can be applied to AGN feedback in galaxies and clusters. We will greatly improve our knowledge of the scaling relationship between characteristic X-ray timescale, mass and accretion rate in Seyfert galaxies and Galactic binaries, thus testing physical models for this important universal relationship. We will determine whether the relationship applies in jet dominated ``blazars'', implying a universal origin for variability. We are building a model, based on propagating fluctuations, to provide physical understanding of all spectral-timing relationships to derive physical parameters, eg disc emissivity profile. This model, with additional X-ray reprocessing, should also explain X-ray/optical correlations in AGN so we will test it against our X-ray/optical monitoring. To provide a census of the nearby universe on which models of the more distant universe can be built, we are heavily involved in eMERLIN legacy surveys of nearby galaxy samples It is now widely accepted that some process must reheat the gas in galaxy clusters or large amounts of cool gas, which are not seen, would be found in the cores of clusters of galaxies. But what is the heating mechanism? In our most theoretical project we will investigate, via MHD simulations, whether the dissipation of turbulent energy, driven by merger events, galaxy motions and AGN outflows, may be responsible. On the largest scales, both AGN and starforming galaxies (SFGs) contribute to the faint radio source population, but what is the mix? By combining radio morphology with a variety of spectral energy diagnostics we can distinguish AGN from SFGs. Hence, using radio luminosity as a starformation rate (SFR) indicator, we can determine the evolution of the cosmic SFR in an absorption-independent manner. We will push this technique to much higher redshifts, as major contributors to eMERLIN deep field legacy surveys, and also probe the relationship between SFGs and AGN.
Organisations
Publications
Körding E
(2011)
Detection of radio emission from a nova-like cataclysmic variable: evidence of jets?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Croston J
(2011)
A LARGE-SCALE SHOCK SURROUNDING A POWERFUL RADIO GALAXY?
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jones S
(2011)
Radio and X-ray variability in the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4051 Radio/X-ray variability in NGC 4051
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Schurch M
(2011)
Orbital period determinations for four SMC Be/X-ray binaries Orbital period determinations for four BeXRBs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Novara G
(2011)
Highly absorbed X-ray binaries in the Small Magellanic Cloud
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Ubertini P
(2011)
The INTEGRAL high energy sky and the MeV-GeV connection
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Bell M
(2011)
An automated archival Very Large Array transients survey An automated archival VLA transients survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Shelton D
(2011)
The dynamics and environmental impact of 3C 452 The dynamics & environmental impact of 3C 452
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Aharonian F
(2011)
Primary particle acceleration above 100 TeV in the shell-type supernova remnant RX J1713.7 - 3946 with deep H.E.S.S. observations ( Corrigendum )
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bell M
(2011)
X-ray and radio variability in the low-luminosity active galactic nucleus NGC 7213 NGC 7213: X-ray and radio variability
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hota A
(2011)
Discovery of a spiral-host episodic radio galaxy
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Wang Y
(2011)
The entrainment-limited evolution of FR II sources: maximum sizes and a possible connection to FR Is The entrainment-limited evolution of FR IIs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Panessa F
(2011)
Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies at hard X-rays? INTEGRAL narrow-line Seyfert 1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sturm R
(2011)
The XMM-Newton survey of the Small Magellanic Cloud: discovery of the 11.866 s Be/X-ray binary pulsar XMMU J004814.0-732204(SXP11.87)
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Dunn R
(2011)
A global study of the behaviour of black hole X-ray binary discs X-ray binary discs: a gloabal study
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
D'Ammando F
(2011)
AGILE detection of extreme ? -ray activity from the blazar PKS 1510-089 during March 2009 Multifrequency analysis?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Leigh N
(2011)
Dissecting the colour-magnitude diagram: a homogeneous catalogue of stellar populations in globular clusters Dissecting the colour-magnitude diagram
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Stappers B
(2011)
Observing pulsars and fast transients with LOFAR
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Mingo B
(2011)
MARKARIAN 6: SHOCKING THE ENVIRONMENT OF AN INTERMEDIATE SEYFERT
in The Astrophysical Journal
Broderick J
(2011)
Is there really a dichotomy in active galactic nucleus jet power? Is there really a dichotomy in AGN jet power?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Russell D
(2011)
A tool to separate optical/infrared disc and jet emission in X-ray transient outbursts: the colour-magnitude diagrams of XTE J1550-564 CMDs to separate OIR disc/jet emission
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Moin A
(2011)
e-VLBI observations of Circinus X-1: monitoring of the quiescent and flaring radio emission on au scales e-VLBI observations of Circinus X-1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Russell D
(2011)
TESTING THE JET QUENCHING PARADIGM WITH AN ULTRADEEP OBSERVATION OF A STEADILY SOFT STATE BLACK HOLE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Coe M
(2011)
The XMM-Newton survey of the Small Magellanic Cloud: XMMU J005011.2-730026 = SXP 214, a Be/X-ray binary pulsar? SXP 214
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Joseph T
(2011)
The unusual radio transient in M82: an SS 433 analogue?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Evans D
(2011)
THE SUZAKU VIEW OF THE DISK-JET CONNECTION IN THE LOW-EXCITATION RADIO GALAXY NGC 6251
in The Astrophysical Journal
Rajoelimanana A
(2011)
Very long-term optical variability of high-mass X-ray binaries in the Small Magellanic Cloud Very long optical variability in BeX sources
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Uthas H
(2011)
The cataclysmic variable SDSS J1507+52: an eclipsing period bouncer in the Galactic halo
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Peacock M
(2011)
The ultraviolet colour of globular clusters in M31: a core density effect? The UV colour of globular clusters in M31
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2011)
An XMM-Newton view of the `bare' nucleus of Fairall 9
Owen R
(2011)
IKT 16: a composite supernova remnant in the Small Magellanic Cloud
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Actis M
(2011)
Design concepts for the Cherenkov Telescope Array CTA: an advanced facility for ground-based high-energy gamma-ray astronomy
in Experimental Astronomy
Sguera V
(2011)
IGR J17354-3255 as a candidate intermediate supergiant fast X-ray transient possibly associated with the transient MeV AGL J1734-3310 IGR J17354-3255 as candidate SFXT
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hakala P
(2011)
Fast optical and X-ray variability in the UCXB 4U0614+09? Variability in the UCXB 4U0614+09
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Leigh N
(2011)
An analytic model for blue straggler formation in globular clusters Blue straggler formation in globular clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Capitanio F
(2011)
FINDING PERSISTENT SOURCES WITH THE BeppoSAX /WIDE FIELD CAMERA: AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2011)
Negative X-ray reverberation time delays from MCG-6-30-15 and Mrk 766
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Ferrari C
(2011)
Discovery of the correspondence between intra-cluster radio emission and a high pressure region detected through the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Shih I
(2011)
Correlated optical/X-ray long-term variability in LMXB 4U 1636-536 Long term variability in LMXB 4U 1636-536
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Yoon D
(2011)
JET TRAILS AND MACH CONES: THE INTERACTION OF MICROQUASARS WITH THE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM
in The Astrophysical Journal
Knigge C
(2011)
THE EVOLUTION OF CATACLYSMIC VARIABLES AS REVEALED BY THEIR DONOR STARS
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Vercellone S
(2011)
THE BRIGHTEST GAMMA-RAY FLARING BLAZAR IN THE SKY: AGILE AND MULTI-WAVELENGTH OBSERVATIONS OF 3C 454.3 DURING 2010 NOVEMBER
in The Astrophysical Journal
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2011)
An XMM-Newton view of the 'bare' nucleus of Fairall 9? XMM-Newton observations of Fairall 9
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hardcastle M
(2011)
Modelling TeV ?-ray emission from the kiloparsec-scale jets of Centaurus A and M87 TeV jets in Cen A & M87
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Noebauer U
(2010)
THE GEOMETRY AND IONIZATION STRUCTURE OF THE WIND IN THE ECLIPSING NOVA-LIKE VARIABLES RW TRI AND UX UMa
in The Astrophysical Journal
Aharonian F
(2010)
Erratum to "Observations of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy by the HESS experiment and search for a dark matter signal" [Astropart. Phys. 29(1) (2008) 55-62]
in Astroparticle Physics
Aharonian F
(2010)
Discovery of VHE ? -rays from the BL Lacertae object PKS 0548-322
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Haarsma D
(2010)
BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXIES AND CORE GAS DENSITY IN REXCESS CLUSTERS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Townsend L
(2010)
Be/X-ray binary SXP6.85 undergoes large Type II outburst in the Small Magellanic Cloud
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| Description | Many details regarding the accretion of material onto compact objects such as black holes, and the resulting emission, particularly with regard to the variability properties and to jets |
| Exploitation Route | We work on some of the major questions in high energy astrophysics and our work on timing properties and scaling relationships between different mass and accretion rates will certainly form the basis of future examinations of scaling relationships, ie are black holes the same, apart from scale? |
| Sectors | Creative Economy Education |
| Description | Other researchers have applied the techniques developed during the course of this grant to different types of astrophysical objects. We have also used them in the context of undergraduate projects on the time series analysis of stock market data, resulting the in the said undergraduates getting better paid jobs than their lecturers. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Education,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy |
| Impact Types | Cultural |