Astronomy and Astrophysics at Edinburgh
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Sch of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
An astonishing feature of modern astrophysical research is that we have in principle a chain of explanation that stretches from processes on cosmological scales of billions of light years, down to the creation of stars, planets around the stars and life on the planets. In a sense, this process is almost a closed loop: the early universe was once of subnuclear scale, so that quantum mechanical uncertainty is bound to seed fluctuations in density, which eventually collapse under gravity to make astronomical structures. This is the same physics of the very small that governs the formation of the atoms out of which we are all made.
But unanswered questions abound at all stages of this process. Our theories of the early universe and explanations of its current expansion rest on the concept that empty space can have weight: the so-called "dark energy". We need to study its properties and understand its origin. In so doing, we often assume that Einstein's relativity describes gravity correctly, but can we test this? If the standard theory is correct, dark matter is required, and we are driven to follow the processes by which it clumps, and by which the gas within these clumps evolves, eventally forming stars. New large telescopes on the ground, together with the Hubble Space Telescope, allow us to see this process in action and compare with computer simulations. Nearer to home, we can dissect galaxies such as our own Milky Way into individual stars, for the most detailed view of how they were assembled. And finally we can study how planets arise around these stars, both from new instruments that can measure the presence of "exoplanets" and by computer simulations of how they may be created. Finally, one can ask how life might arise in these early planetary systems, and how it can survive the hostile conditions of outer space.
Research in astronomy in Edinburgh attacks all these connected questions. Progress is rapid, and our understanding evolves rapidly. Major progress, even if not final answers, can be expected within a few years. This is an exciting time for our understanding of the universe and our place within it.
But unanswered questions abound at all stages of this process. Our theories of the early universe and explanations of its current expansion rest on the concept that empty space can have weight: the so-called "dark energy". We need to study its properties and understand its origin. In so doing, we often assume that Einstein's relativity describes gravity correctly, but can we test this? If the standard theory is correct, dark matter is required, and we are driven to follow the processes by which it clumps, and by which the gas within these clumps evolves, eventally forming stars. New large telescopes on the ground, together with the Hubble Space Telescope, allow us to see this process in action and compare with computer simulations. Nearer to home, we can dissect galaxies such as our own Milky Way into individual stars, for the most detailed view of how they were assembled. And finally we can study how planets arise around these stars, both from new instruments that can measure the presence of "exoplanets" and by computer simulations of how they may be created. Finally, one can ask how life might arise in these early planetary systems, and how it can survive the hostile conditions of outer space.
Research in astronomy in Edinburgh attacks all these connected questions. Progress is rapid, and our understanding evolves rapidly. Major progress, even if not final answers, can be expected within a few years. This is an exciting time for our understanding of the universe and our place within it.
Planned Impact
The research in this consolidated grant may be expected to have a general impact in three distinct ways:
(1) Impact in the form of developing knowledge for spin-out.
The outstanding example here is Blackford Analysis. This is a spin-out company, formed in 2010, applying algorithms developed in the astronomy research programme (some funded by rolling grant support) at IfA to medical imaging and security sectors. Former post-doc Dr Ben Panter is CEO. Alan Heavens continues to provide technical expertise and is a non-executive director. The programme has used students for consultancy work, and recruited students and postdocs, employing four people in its first year. Other similar cases of algorithm application are under consideration.
(2) Impact in the form of work of common interest with existing industry.
A good example of this is our collaboration with e2v on new-generation CCD detectors. We are developing the camera for NASA/JPL's High Altitude Lensing Observatory (HALO) balloon telescope, and e2v will supply detectors. In return, they will obtain data on detector performance in near-space conditions, which should help them bid for future space contracts with the European Space Agency.
(3) Impact in the form of outreach.
Edinburgh has a long-standing and proud record of achievement in this area, thanks to decades of outstanding work by the Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, jointly funded by the University of Edinburgh and STFC. Within the UK university sector, this programme is unusual in its breadth and scope, extending well beyond the normal expectation of public talks, press releases and media interviews. This is in part because IfA staff, post-docs and students have the opportunity to work collaboratively with Visitor Centre Staff, and also in part due to the unique advantages afforded by the ROE site, with its unusual combination of front-line astronomical research, world-leading instrument/technology development, and astronomical history/heritage. Activities include the annual ROE open days, school visits to ROE, weekly public observing, 'Meet The Astronomer' sessions, school visits (with the portable Starlab planetarium), Andy Lawrence's popular e-Astronomer blog, teacher training (including the development of educational resources for both Primary and Secondary teachers), adult 'continuing-education' certificated evening courses, and the development and operation of the Dark Sky Scotland and (most recently) Dark Sky England programmes. ROE is now also the Scottish centre for the European Space Agency led European Space Eduction Resource Office (ESERO), supporting Space Education throughout Scotland.
(1) Impact in the form of developing knowledge for spin-out.
The outstanding example here is Blackford Analysis. This is a spin-out company, formed in 2010, applying algorithms developed in the astronomy research programme (some funded by rolling grant support) at IfA to medical imaging and security sectors. Former post-doc Dr Ben Panter is CEO. Alan Heavens continues to provide technical expertise and is a non-executive director. The programme has used students for consultancy work, and recruited students and postdocs, employing four people in its first year. Other similar cases of algorithm application are under consideration.
(2) Impact in the form of work of common interest with existing industry.
A good example of this is our collaboration with e2v on new-generation CCD detectors. We are developing the camera for NASA/JPL's High Altitude Lensing Observatory (HALO) balloon telescope, and e2v will supply detectors. In return, they will obtain data on detector performance in near-space conditions, which should help them bid for future space contracts with the European Space Agency.
(3) Impact in the form of outreach.
Edinburgh has a long-standing and proud record of achievement in this area, thanks to decades of outstanding work by the Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, jointly funded by the University of Edinburgh and STFC. Within the UK university sector, this programme is unusual in its breadth and scope, extending well beyond the normal expectation of public talks, press releases and media interviews. This is in part because IfA staff, post-docs and students have the opportunity to work collaboratively with Visitor Centre Staff, and also in part due to the unique advantages afforded by the ROE site, with its unusual combination of front-line astronomical research, world-leading instrument/technology development, and astronomical history/heritage. Activities include the annual ROE open days, school visits to ROE, weekly public observing, 'Meet The Astronomer' sessions, school visits (with the portable Starlab planetarium), Andy Lawrence's popular e-Astronomer blog, teacher training (including the development of educational resources for both Primary and Secondary teachers), adult 'continuing-education' certificated evening courses, and the development and operation of the Dark Sky Scotland and (most recently) Dark Sky England programmes. ROE is now also the Scottish centre for the European Space Agency led European Space Eduction Resource Office (ESERO), supporting Space Education throughout Scotland.
Organisations
Publications
Mead A
(2014)
Remapping dark matter halo catalogues between cosmological simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mead A
(2015)
Rapid simulation rescaling from standard to modified gravity models
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McLure R
(2013)
A new multifield determination of the galaxy luminosity function at z = 7-9 incorporating the 2012 Hubble Ultra-Deep Field imaging
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McLure R
(2013)
The sizes, masses and specific star formation rates of massive galaxies at 1.3 < z < 1.5: strong evidence in favour of evolution via minor mergers
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mauduit J
(2012)
The Spitzer Extragalactic Representative Volume Survey (SERVS): Survey Definition and Goals ( PASP, 124, 714, [2012] )
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Marulli F
(2013)
The VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey (VIPERS) Luminosity and stellar mass dependence of galaxy clustering at 0.5 < z < 1.1
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Martin N
(2013)
LACERTA I AND CASSIOPEIA III. TWO LUMINOUS AND DISTANT ANDROMEDA SATELLITE DWARF GALAXIES FOUND IN THE 3p PAN-STARRS1 SURVEY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Martin N
(2013)
THE PAndAS VIEW OF THE ANDROMEDA SATELLITE SYSTEM. I. A BAYESIAN SEARCH FOR DWARF GALAXIES USING SPATIAL AND COLOR-MAGNITUDE INFORMATION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Martin N
(2013)
PERSEUS I: A DISTANT SATELLITE DWARF GALAXY OF ANDROMEDA
in The Astrophysical Journal
Marchetti A
(2013)
The VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey (VIPERS): spectral classification through principal component analysis?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Malek K
(2013)
The VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey (VIPERS) A support vector machine classification of galaxies, stars, and AGNs?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Maeda Taiki
(2013)
Gauss Sums on $GL_2(\mathbb{Z}/p^l\mathbb{Z})$
in arXiv e-prints
Mackey A
(2013)
Young accreted globular clusters in the outer halo of M31
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mackey A
(2013)
A PECULIAR FAINT SATELLITE IN THE REMOTE OUTER HALO OF M31
in The Astrophysical Journal
Mackey A
(2013)
A VLT/FLAMES STUDY OF THE PECULIAR INTERMEDIATE-AGE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD STAR CLUSTER NGC 1846. I. KINEMATICS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Lucas W
(2013)
Misaligned streamers around a Galactic Centre black hole from a single cloud's infall
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lombriser L
(2019)
Parametrizations for tests of gravity
Lombriser L
(2019)
Parametrizations for tests of gravity
in International Journal of Modern Physics D
Lewis G
(2013)
PAndAS IN THE MIST: THE STELLAR AND GASEOUS MASS WITHIN THE HALOS OF M31 AND M33
in The Astrophysical Journal
Leonard C
(2015)
Testing gravity with E G : mapping theory onto observations
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Lehmer B
(2013)
CONCURRENT SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE AND GALAXY GROWTH: LINKING ENVIRONMENT AND NUCLEAR ACTIVITY IN z = 2.23 Ha EMITTERS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kuijken K
(2015)
Gravitational lensing analysis of the Kilo-Degree Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Koyama Y
(2013)
On the evolution and environmental dependence of the star formation rate versus stellar mass relation since z ~ 2
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Koprowski M
(2014)
A reassessment of the redshift distribution and physical properties of luminous (sub-)millimetre galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Koekemoer A
(2013)
THE 2012 HUBBLE ULTRA DEEP FIELD (UDF12): OBSERVATIONAL OVERVIEW
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Description | ROE Visitor Centre |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Multiple Edinburgh researchers regularly give talks that engage with the public, and particularly schools groups, under the auspices of the ROE Visitor Centre. These range from informal "meet the astronomer" sessions to more structured presentations on advances in astronomy. Evidence of Short-Term Impact is provided by basic numbers, and immediate feedback from questionnaires etc. For example, the annual ROE Open Days attract ~2500 visitors of all ages, while ~6000 school-age children either visit ROE, or receive school visits each year. In addition, more than 50 community Dark Sky events have now been held throughout Scotland, and more than 800 teachers and educators have been trained to run Dark Sky activities. The IfA makes a major contribution towards this direct people contact; for example, in 2010, ten IfA post-graduate students contributed a combined total of over 300 hours to outreach activity. It is also possible to identify clear evidence of Long-Term Impact. For example, over 100 school teachers have attended our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses, and have been provided with Deep Space Resources (developed as part of the CPD work at ROE) for use in the classroom. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |