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
Kraft R
(2009)
THE JET HEATED X-RAY FILAMENT IN THE CENTAURUS A NORTHERN MIDDLE RADIO LOBE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kotze M
(2009)
Discovery of long-term superorbital periodicities in the pseudo-transient LMXBs: IGR J17098-3628 and EXO 0748-676
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kotze M
(2012)
Characterizing X-ray binary long-term variability Long-term variability in X-ray binaries
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kotze M
(2010)
Very long-term X-ray variations in LMXBs: solar cycle-like variations in the donor?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Konar C
(2012)
The Dynamics of Radio Galaxies and Double-Double Radio Galaxies
in Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy
Konar C
(2009)
The dynamics of the giant radio galaxy 3C???457
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Knigge C
(2011)
Two populations of X-ray pulsars produced by two types of supernova.
in Nature
Knigge C
(2011)
THE EVOLUTION OF CATACLYSMIC VARIABLES AS REVEALED BY THEIR DONOR STARS
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Kharb P
(2010)
PARSEC-SCALE IMAGING OF THE RADIO-BUBBLE SEYFERT GALAXY NGC 6764
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jurua E
(2011)
The optical and X-ray light curves of Hercules X-1 The optical and X-ray light curves of Her X-1
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
Jorstad S
(2010)
FLARING BEHAVIOR OF THE QUASAR 3C 454.3 ACROSS THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jonker P
(2011)
THE GALACTIC BULGE SURVEY: OUTLINE AND X-RAY OBSERVATIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Jonker P
(2010)
Following the 2008 outburst decay of the black hole candidate H 1743-322â??in X-ray and radio
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Jamil O
(2010)
iShocks: X-ray binary jets with an internal shocks model
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Inam S
(2009)
RXTE -PCA observations of XMMU J054134.7-682550
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hynes R
(2009)
The quiescent spectral energy distribution of V404 Cyg
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
Hoard D
(2010)
SIMULTANEOUS X-RAY AND ULTRAVIOLET OBSERVATIONS OF THE SW SEXTANTIS STAR DW URSAE MAJORIS
in The Astronomical Journal
Heinke C
(2010)
DISCOVERY OF A SECOND TRANSIENT LOW-MASS X-RAY BINARY IN THE GLOBULAR CLUSTER NGC 6440
in The Astrophysical Journal
Harris R
(2009)
GX 9+9: VARIABILITY OF THE X-RAY ORBITAL MODULATION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hardcastle M
(2010)
Searching for the inverse-Compton emission from bright cluster-centre radio galaxies
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
Hardcastle M
(2009)
The active nuclei of z < 1.0 3CRR radio sources
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
Haarsma D
(2010)
BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXIES AND CORE GAS DENSITY IN REXCESS CLUSTERS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Groot P
(2009)
The UV-Excess survey of the northern Galactic plane
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Goodger J
(2010)
LONG-TERM MONITORING OF THE DYNAMICS AND PARTICLE ACCELERATION OF KNOTS IN THE JET OF CENTAURUS A
in The Astrophysical Journal
Freeland E
(2010)
Quantifying the importance of ram-pressure stripping in a galaxy group at 100 Mpc Quantifying the importance of ram-pressure stripping
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Foster D
(2010)
INTERPRETATION OF THE 115 DAY PERIODIC MODULATION IN THE X-RAY FLUX OF NGC 5408 X-1
in The Astrophysical Journal
Fiocchi M
(2010)
IGR J16328-4726: A NEW CANDIDATE SUPERGIANT FAST X-RAY TRANSIENT
in The Astrophysical Journal
Fiocchi M
(2010)
FIVE NEW INTEGRAL UNIDENTIFIED HARD X-RAY SOURCES UNCOVERED BY CHANDRA
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Fermi-LAT Collaboration
(2010)
A change in the optical polarization associated with a gamma-ray flare in the blazar 3C 279.
in Nature
Fermi LAT Collaboration
(2012)
Periodic emission from the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Fender R
(2010)
No evidence for black hole spin powering of jets in X-ray binaries Black hole binary jets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fender R
(2010)
The Jet Paradigm - From Microquasars to Quasars
Fender R
(2009)
Jets from black hole X-ray binaries: testing, refining and extending empirical models for the coupling to X-rays
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Evans D
(2011)
THE SUZAKU VIEW OF THE DISK-JET CONNECTION IN THE LOW-EXCITATION RADIO GALAXY NGC 6251
in The Astrophysical Journal
Emmanoulopoulos D.
(2016)
A search for X-ray reprocessing echoes in the power spectral density functions of AGN
in Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc.
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2016)
Extensive X-ray variability studies of NGC 7314 using long XMM-Newton observations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2015)
Pinpointing the base of the AGN jets through general relativistic X-ray reverberation studies
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2011)
Negative X-ray reverberation time delays from MCG-6-30-15 and Mrk 766
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2013)
X-ray spectral analysis of the low-luminosity active galactic nucleus NGC 7213 using long XMM-Newton observations?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2012)
The `harder when brighter' X-ray behaviour of the low luminosity active galactic nucleus NGC 7213
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2012)
The 'harder when brighter' X-ray behaviour of the low-luminosity active galactic nucleus NGC 7213 NGC 7213: 'harder when brighter' X-ray behaviour
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2014)
Pinpointing the base of the AGN jets through general relativistic X-ray reverberation studies
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2014)
General relativistic modelling of the negative reverberation X-ray time delays in AGN?
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 |