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
Coe M
(2010)
INTEGRAL deep observations of the Small Magellanic Cloud INTEGRAL-SMC
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kharb P
(2010)
PARSEC-SCALE IMAGING OF THE RADIO-BUBBLE SEYFERT GALAXY NGC 6764
in The Astrophysical Journal
Maccarone T
(2010)
Large amplitude variability from the persistent ultracompact X-ray binary in NGC 1851 Strong X-ray variability in NGC 1851
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fiocchi M
(2010)
IGR J16328-4726: A NEW CANDIDATE SUPERGIANT FAST X-RAY TRANSIENT
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Jorstad S
(2010)
FLARING BEHAVIOR OF THE QUASAR 3C 454.3 ACROSS THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
in The Astrophysical Journal
Peacock M
(2010)
The M31 globular cluster system: ugriz and K -band photometry and structural parameters
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
Clark D
(2010)
The orbital period in the supergiant fast X-ray transient IGR J16465-4507
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Lal D
(2010)
A CHANDRA OBSERVATION OF 3C 288-REHEATING THE COOL CORE OF A 3 keV CLUSTER FROM A NUCLEAR OUTBURST at z = 0.246
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
Vandenbroucke J
(2010)
DISCOVERY OF A GeV BLAZAR SHINING THROUGH THE GALACTIC PLANE
in The Astrophysical Journal
McBride V
(2010)
The Magellanic Bridge: evidence for a population of X-ray binaries X-ray binaries in the Magellanic Bridge
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dunn R
(2010)
A global spectral study of black hole X-ray binaries
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Böhringer H
(2010)
Substructure of the galaxy clusters in the REXCESS sample: observed statistics and comparison to numerical simulations
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Townsend L
(2010)
The orbital solution and spectral classification of the high-mass X-ray binary IGR J01054-7253 in the Small Magellanic Cloud Orbital solution to the HMXB IGR J01054-7253
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fermi-LAT Collaboration
(2010)
A change in the optical polarization associated with a gamma-ray flare in the blazar 3C 279.
in Nature
Rushton A
(2010)
Steady jets from radiatively efficient hard states in GRS 1915+105
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Cottis C
(2010)
Searching for the signature of radiative line driving: on the absence of Lya-N v line-locking features in a large sample of BALQSOs Radiative line driving in BALQSOs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Migliari S
(2010)
THE COMPLETE SPECTRUM OF THE NEUTRON STAR X-RAY BINARY 4U 0614+091
in The Astrophysical Journal
Seymour N
(2010)
The comoving infrared luminosity density: domination of cold galaxies across 0 < z < 1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Detmers R
(2009)
X-ray narrow line region variability as a geometry probe The case of NGC 5548
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Voss R
(2009)
LUMINOSITY FUNCTIONS OF LMXBs IN CENTAURUS A: GLOBULAR CLUSTERS VERSUS THE FIELD
in The Astrophysical Journal
Coe M
(2009)
An X-ray and optical study of the new SMC X-ray binary pulsar system SXP7.92 and its probable optical counterpart, AzV285
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Acero F
(2009)
Detection of gamma rays from a starburst galaxy.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Ness J
(2009)
SWIFT X-RAY AND ULTRAVIOLET MONITORING OF THE CLASSICAL NOVA V458 VUL (NOVA VUL 2007)
in The Astronomical Journal
D'Ammando F
(2009)
AGILE detection of a rapid ? -ray flare from the blazar PKS 1510-089 during the GASP-WEBT monitoring
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Inam S
(2009)
RXTE -PCA observations of XMMU J054134.7-682550
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Aharonian F
(2009)
SIMULTANEOUS OBSERVATIONS OF PKS 2155-304 WITH HESS, FERMI , RXTE , AND ATOM: SPECTRAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTIONS AND VARIABILITY IN A LOW STATE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kraft R
(2009)
THE JET HEATED X-RAY FILAMENT IN THE CENTAURUS A NORTHERN MIDDLE RADIO LOBE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Arévalo P
(2009)
Correlation and time delays of the X-ray and optical emission of the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 3783
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Malizia A
(2009)
The fraction of Compton-thick sources in an INTEGRAL complete AGN sample
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cabanac C
(2009)
On the variation of black hole accretion disc radii as a function of state and accretion rate
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Molina M
(2009)
The INTEGRAL complete sample of type 1 AGN
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Scaringi S
(2009)
Classifying broad absorption line quasars: metrics, issues and a new catalogue constructed from SDSS DR5
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Aharonian F
(2009)
DISCOVERY OF VERY HIGH ENERGY ?-RAY EMISSION FROM CENTAURUS A WITH H.E.S.S.
in The Astrophysical Journal
Aharonian F
(2009)
Very high energy ?-ray observations of the binary PSR B1259-63/SS2883 around the 2007 Periastron
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Soleri P
(2009)
Linking jet emission and X-ray properties in the peculiar neutron star X-ray binary Circinus X-1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Harris R
(2009)
GX 9+9: VARIABILITY OF THE X-RAY ORBITAL MODULATION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Marshall K
(2009)
MULTIWAVELENGTH VARIABILITY OF THE BROAD LINE RADIO GALAXY 3C 120
in The Astrophysical Journal
Zurek D
(2009)
AN ULTRACOMPACT X-RAY BINARY IN THE GLOBULAR CLUSTER NGC 1851
in The Astrophysical Journal
Chatterjee R
(2009)
DISK-JET CONNECTION IN THE RADIO GALAXY 3C 120
in The Astrophysical Journal
Seymour N
(2009)
Investigating the far-IR/radio correlation of star-forming Galaxies to z = 3
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pratt G
(2009)
Galaxy cluster X-ray luminosity scaling relations from a representative local sample (REXCESS)
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
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
Parisi P
(2009)
Accurate classification of 17 AGNs detected with Swift/BAT
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Konar C
(2009)
The dynamics of the giant radio galaxy 3C???457
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
VERITAS Collaboration
(2009)
Radio imaging of the very-high-energy gamma-ray emission region in the central engine of a radio galaxy.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
| 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 |