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
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Fermi-LAT Collaboration
(2010)
A change in the optical polarization associated with a gamma-ray flare in the blazar 3C 279.
in Nature
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Knigge C
(2011)
Two populations of X-ray pulsars produced by two types of supernova.
in Nature
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Charles P
(2010)
Supersoft X-ray sources: Confronting the van den Heuvel paradigm
in New Astronomy Reviews
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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
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Emmanoulopoulos D
(2015)
Pinpointing the base of the AGN jets through general relativistic X-ray reverberation studies
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
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Macquart J
(2013)
The Commensal Real-Time ASKAP Fast-Transients (CRAFT) Survey
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
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Acero F
(2009)
Detection of gamma rays from a starburst galaxy.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
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Fermi LAT Collaboration
(2012)
Periodic emission from the gamma-ray binary 1FGL J1018.6-5856.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
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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.)
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Ness J
(2009)
SWIFT X-RAY AND ULTRAVIOLET MONITORING OF THE CLASSICAL NOVA V458 VUL (NOVA VUL 2007)
in The Astronomical Journal
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Hoard D
(2010)
SIMULTANEOUS X-RAY AND ULTRAVIOLET OBSERVATIONS OF THE SW SEXTANTIS STAR DW URSAE MAJORIS
in The Astronomical Journal
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Harris R
(2009)
GX 9+9: VARIABILITY OF THE X-RAY ORBITAL MODULATION
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Kharb P
(2010)
PARSEC-SCALE IMAGING OF THE RADIO-BUBBLE SEYFERT GALAXY NGC 6764
in The Astrophysical Journal
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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
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Fiocchi M
(2010)
IGR J16328-4726: A NEW CANDIDATE SUPERGIANT FAST X-RAY TRANSIENT
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Marscher A
(2010)
PROBING THE INNER JET OF THE QUASAR PKS 1510-089 WITH MULTI-WAVEBAND MONITORING DURING STRONG GAMMA-RAY ACTIVITY
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Dieball A
(2010)
ERRATUM: "UNVEILING THE CORE OF THE GLOBULAR CLUSTER M 15 IN THE ULTRAVIOLET" (2007, ApJ, 670, 379)
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Voss R
(2009)
LUMINOSITY FUNCTIONS OF LMXBs IN CENTAURUS A: GLOBULAR CLUSTERS VERSUS THE FIELD
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Long K
(2009)
THE EFFECT OF A SUPEROUTBURST ON THE WHITE DWARF AND DISK OF VW HYDRI AS OBSERVED WITH FUSE
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Heinke C
(2010)
DISCOVERY OF A SECOND TRANSIENT LOW-MASS X-RAY BINARY IN THE GLOBULAR CLUSTER NGC 6440
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Chatterjee R
(2011)
CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ACCRETION DISK AND JET IN THE RADIO GALAXY 3C 111
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Liu Y
(2010)
SUZAKU MONITORING OF THE IRON K EMISSION LINE IN THE TYPE 1 ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS NGC 5548
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Jorstad S
(2010)
FLARING BEHAVIOR OF THE QUASAR 3C 454.3 ACROSS THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
in The Astrophysical Journal
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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
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Krongold Y
(2010)
SUZAKU MONITORING OF THE SEYFERT 1 GALAXY NGC 5548: WARM ABSORBER LOCATION AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR COSMIC FEEDBACK
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Donahue M
(2010)
STAR FORMATION AND UV COLORS OF THE BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXIES IN THE REPRESENTATIVE XMM-NEWTON CLUSTER STRUCTURE SURVEY
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Aharonian F
(2009)
DISCOVERY OF VERY HIGH ENERGY ?-RAY EMISSION FROM CENTAURUS A WITH H.E.S.S.
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Chatterjee R
(2009)
DISK-JET CONNECTION IN THE RADIO GALAXY 3C 120
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Russell D
(2011)
TESTING THE JET QUENCHING PARADIGM WITH AN ULTRADEEP OBSERVATION OF A STEADILY SOFT STATE BLACK HOLE
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Migliari S
(2010)
THE COMPLETE SPECTRUM OF THE NEUTRON STAR X-RAY BINARY 4U 0614+091
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Marshall H
(2010)
A FLARE IN THE JET OF PICTOR A
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Vandenbroucke J
(2010)
DISCOVERY OF A GeV BLAZAR SHINING THROUGH THE GALACTIC PLANE
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Foster D
(2010)
INTERPRETATION OF THE 115 DAY PERIODIC MODULATION IN THE X-RAY FLUX OF NGC 5408 X-1
in The Astrophysical Journal
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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
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Haarsma D
(2010)
BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXIES AND CORE GAS DENSITY IN REXCESS CLUSTERS
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Mingo B
(2011)
MARKARIAN 6: SHOCKING THE ENVIRONMENT OF AN INTERMEDIATE SEYFERT
in The Astrophysical Journal
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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
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Goodger J
(2010)
LONG-TERM MONITORING OF THE DYNAMICS AND PARTICLE ACCELERATION OF KNOTS IN THE JET OF CENTAURUS A
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Croston J
(2011)
A LARGE-SCALE SHOCK SURROUNDING A POWERFUL RADIO GALAXY?
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Marshall K
(2009)
MULTIWAVELENGTH VARIABILITY OF THE BROAD LINE RADIO GALAXY 3C 120
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Abdo A
(2010)
FERMI LARGE AREA TELESCOPE AND MULTI-WAVELENGTH OBSERVATIONS OF THE FLARING ACTIVITY OF PKS 1510-089 BETWEEN 2008 SEPTEMBER AND 2009 JUNE
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Miller-Jones J
(2010)
EVOLUTION OF THE RADIO-X-RAY COUPLING THROUGHOUT AN ENTIRE OUTBURST OF AQUILA X-1
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Ubertini P
(2009)
THE FERMI /LAT SKY AS SEEN BY INTEGRAL/IBIS
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Kraft R
(2009)
THE JET HEATED X-RAY FILAMENT IN THE CENTAURUS A NORTHERN MIDDLE RADIO LOBE
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Sell P
(2010)
PARSEC-SCALE BIPOLAR X-RAY SHOCKS PRODUCED BY POWERFUL JETS FROM THE NEUTRON STAR CIRCINUS X-1
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Servillat M
(2011)
A DWARF NOVA IN THE GLOBULAR CLUSTER M13
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Sguera V
(2009)
DISSECTING THE REGION OF 3EG J1837-0423 AND HESS J1841-055 WITH INTEGRAL
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Evans D
(2011)
THE SUZAKU VIEW OF THE DISK-JET CONNECTION IN THE LOW-EXCITATION RADIO GALAXY NGC 6251
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Zurek D
(2009)
AN ULTRACOMPACT X-RAY BINARY IN THE GLOBULAR CLUSTER NGC 1851
in The Astrophysical Journal
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Dieball A
(2010)
A FAR-ULTRAVIOLET SURVEY OF M80: X-RAY SOURCE COUNTERPARTS, STRANGE BLUE STRAGGLERS, AND THE RECOVERY OF NOVA T SCO
in The Astrophysical Journal
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 |