Open University Consolidated Grant Phase 1
Lead Research Organisation:
The Open University
Department Name: Physical Sciences
Abstract
We will study a wide range of some of the most important problems in modern astrophysics. Our programme is aimed at: a) Measuring the make-up and composition of the basic components of material in our Galaxy. This includes understanding where energetic 'cosmic ray' particles in the space between stars come from; studying the birth and evolution of massive stars from observations of placental ionised birthplaces (called HII regions) using LOFAR, STFC's new radio telescope; examining how young massive star clusters influence their local region of space via their UV radiation, and how they deposit material and mechanical energy back into space. Finally, to understand how some massive stars quite quickly form massive stellar remnants, such as black holes. b) We will study exoplanets, planets orbiting around distant stars. We will observe the structure and properties of their atmospheres, to learn whether close-in planets are consumed by their host star. We are working towards detecting habitable exoplanets, including examining whether we can identify systems with rocky planets using the chemical composition of the host star's atmosphere. We are also studying the rocky planets in the Solar System: to understand the water and dust cycles in in the Martian atmosphere and the contributions of atmospheric eddy processes in the atmosphere of Venus. c) On a much larger scale, we seek to understand the structure and history of the entire Universe: studying the dark matter distribution in giant galaxies, and understanding how black hole accretion affects star formation; and using data from the Herschel and ground based telescopes, assessing the physical and morphological properties of distant star-forming galaxies, and studying how the evolving energy budget of the Universe. d) Experimenting in the laboratory to mimic the formation of molecules in on dust grains in space that lead to the complex chemistry that acted as the precursor to life in the Universe, and to explore the chemistry of Mars and Titan. e) Finally, we propose developing and extending our unique programme of Public Engagement and Outreach, to bring the excitement of the Universe to the general public, and the next generation of young people.
Planned Impact
Attached as a separate document, and also included as Appendix D in the main case
Organisations
Publications
Christie H
(2012)
CO depletion in the Gould Belt clouds CO depletion in the Gould Belt clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Paunzen E
(2013)
A photometric study of chemically peculiar stars with the STEREO satellites - II. Non-magnetic chemically peculiar stars?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Davies B
(2012)
The G305 star-forming complex: the central star clusters Danks 1 and Danks 2 The young star clusters Danks 1 and Danks 2
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Serjeant S
(2014)
Constraints on the galaxy 'main sequence' at z > 5: the stellar mass of HDF850.1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kinnear T
(2014)
Evolution of prolate molecular clouds at H?ii boundaries - I. Formation of fragment-core structures
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Marchetti L
(2015)
The HerMES submillimetre local and low-redshift luminosity functions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wraight K
(2012)
STEREO observations of long period variables STEREO observations of LPVs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Buckle J
(2012)
The JCMT Legacy Survey of the Gould Belt: mapping 13CO and C18O in Orion A GBS HARP survey: Orion A
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Negrello M
(2017)
The Herschel -ATLAS: a sample of 500 µm-selected lensed galaxies over 600 deg 2
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kirk J
(2013)
First results from the Herschel? Gould Belt Survey in Taurus
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Oonk J
(2014)
Discovery of carbon radio recombination lines in absorption towards Cygnus A
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Serjeant S.
(2015)
Synergies between SALT and Herschel, Euclid & the SKA: Strong gravitational lensing & galaxy evolution
in Proceedings of Science
Dent W
(2013)
GASPS-A Herschel Survey of Gas and Dust in Protoplanetary Disks: Summary and Initial Statistics
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Doi Y
(2012)
AKARI FAR-INFRARED ALL-SKY SURVEY MAPS
in Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
White G
(2012)
CONFERENCE SUMMARY: THE LEGACY OF AKARI: A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE DUSTY UNIVERSE
in Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
Serjeant S
(2012)
A MULTI-WAVELENGTH VIEW OF GALAXY EVOLUTION WITH AKARI
in Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
Read P
(2016)
Global energy budgets and 'Trenberth diagrams' for the climates of terrestrial and gas giant planets
in Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society
Read PL
(2015)
The physics of Martian weather and climate: a review.
in Reports on progress in physics. Physical Society (Great Britain)
Schneider N
(2013)
WHAT DETERMINES THE DENSITY STRUCTURE OF MOLECULAR CLOUDS? A CASE STUDY OF ORION B WITH HERSCHEL
in The Astrophysical Journal
Krivov A
(2013)
HERSCHEL 's "COLD DEBRIS DISKS": BACKGROUND GALAXIES OR QUIESCENT RIMS OF PLANETARY SYSTEMS?
in The Astrophysical Journal
Fossati L
(2012)
THE HABITABILITY AND DETECTION OF EARTH-LIKE PLANETS ORBITING COOL WHITE DWARFS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Polychroni D
(2013)
TWO MASS DISTRIBUTIONS IN THE L 1641 MOLECULAR CLOUDS: THE HERSCHEL CONNECTION OF DENSE CORES AND FILAMENTS IN ORION A
in The Astrophysical Journal
Fallscheer C
(2013)
HERSCHEL REVEALS MASSIVE COLD CLUMPS IN NGC 7538
in The Astrophysical Journal
Sadavoy S
(2013)
THE HERSCHEL AND JCMT GOULD BELT SURVEYS: CONSTRAINING DUST PROPERTIES IN THE PERSEUS B1 CLUMP WITH PACS, SPIRE, AND SCUBA-2
in The Astrophysical Journal
Haswell C
(2012)
NEAR-ULTRAVIOLET ABSORPTION, CHROMOSPHERIC ACTIVITY, AND STAR-PLANET INTERACTIONS IN THE WASP-12 SYSTEM
in The Astrophysical Journal
| Description | This supported Astronomical Research at the Open University. Outputs have been reported in the Peer reviewed and unrefereed literature |
| Exploitation Route | The results and outputs have informed the following Consolidated grant, into which this was rolled. |
| Sectors | Education |
| Description | Some of the research was used on TV news programmes. |
| Sector | Education |
| Impact Types | Societal |