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
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
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
Russell D
(2011)
TESTING THE JET QUENCHING PARADIGM WITH AN ULTRADEEP OBSERVATION OF A STEADILY SOFT STATE BLACK HOLE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Chatterjee R
(2011)
CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ACCRETION DISK AND JET IN THE RADIO GALAXY 3C 111
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
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
Townsend L
(2011)
On the orbital parameters of Be/X-ray binaries in the Small Magellanic Cloud Orbital parameters of BeXRBs in the SMC
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
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
Knigge C
(2011)
Two populations of X-ray pulsars produced by two types of supernova.
in Nature
Croston J
(2011)
A LARGE-SCALE SHOCK SURROUNDING A POWERFUL RADIO GALAXY?
in The Astrophysical Journal
Lira P
(2011)
Optical and near-IR long-term monitoring of NGC 3783 and MR 2251-178: evidence for variable near-IR emission from thin accretion discs Optical and near-IR monitoring
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
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
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
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
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
Evans D
(2011)
THE SUZAKU VIEW OF THE DISK-JET CONNECTION IN THE LOW-EXCITATION RADIO GALAXY NGC 6251
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Capitanio F
(2011)
FINDING PERSISTENT SOURCES WITH THE BeppoSAX /WIDE FIELD CAMERA: AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Servillat M
(2011)
A DWARF NOVA IN THE GLOBULAR CLUSTER M13
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
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
Jonker P
(2011)
THE GALACTIC BULGE SURVEY: OUTLINE AND X-RAY OBSERVATIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
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
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
Scaringi S
(2011)
Confirmation of 1RXS J165443.5-191620 as an intermediate polar and its orbital and spin periods
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
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
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
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
Miller-Jones J
(2012)
The first resolved imaging of milliarcsecond-scale jets in Circinus X-1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Somero A
(2012)
Phase-resolved optical and X-ray spectroscopy of low-mass X-ray binary X1822-371
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Agudo I
(2012)
3C 286: a bright, compact, stable, and highly polarized calibrator for millimeter-wavelength observations
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pretorius M
(2012)
The space density and X-ray luminosity function of non-magnetic cataclysmic variables Space density and luminosity function of CVs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Uthas H
(2012)
Two new accreting, pulsating white dwarfs: SDSS J1457+51 and BW Sculptoris Two new pulsating CVs: J1457 and BW Scl
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Miller-Jones J
(2012)
Disc-jet coupling in the 2009 outburst of the black hole candidate H1743-322 Disc-jet coupling in H1743-322
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fermi LAT Collaboration
(2012)
Periodic emission from the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Cornelisse R
(2012)
The nature of the X-ray transient MAXI J0556-332 MAXI J0556-332
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Drave S
(2012)
X-ray pulsations from the region of the supergiant fast X-ray transient IGR J17544-2619
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
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
De Rosa A
(2012)
Broad-band study of hard X-ray-selected absorbed active galactic nuclei The X-ray view of type 2 AGN
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Calvelo D
(2012)
Radio observations of Circinus X-1 over a complete orbit at an historically faint epoch Observations of CIR X-1 over a complete orbit
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Davis P
(2012)
Is the common envelope ejection efficiency a function of the binary parameters? The common envelope ejection efficiency
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 NGC 7213: 'harder when brighter' X-ray behaviour
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
Rushton A
(2012)
A weak compact jet in a soft state of Cygnus X-1 A weak compact jet in a soft state of Cygnus X-1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sturm R
(2012)
A new super-soft X-ray source in the Small Magellanic Cloud: Discovery of the first Be/white dwarf system in the SMC?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
| 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 |