Astrophysics Research at the University of Leicester
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
We will deliver world-class research programmes in astrophysics through the exploitation of data from space missions and ground based telescopes, as well as the development of new theories and the numerical simulation of processes in these areas. We will also develop new instrumental techniques and detectors for future missions and telescopes. The research programme is based mainly around two research groups, with some participation by three others. These groups conduct their own research projects but also have a strong ethos of collaboration on topics of mutual interest.
Our research seeks to understand basic processes in our own and other galaxies, addressing questions of great interest to the wider public. We will search for new planets orbiting nearby stars which may mimic the planets that are present in our own solar system or possibly be very different, such as hot Neptunes, or Super Earths.
We will investigate some of the most extreme environments in our Universe by high energy astrophysics research focusing on extreme phenomena ranging from Galactic black hole binaries, through to active galactic nuclei and gamma-ray bursts. These studies will include the feedback processes that link black holes to the evolution of their host galaxies.
We will maintain and enhance a programme in stellar astronomy with emphasis on the astrophysics of white dwarf stars. We will be using high performance computers to simulate these systems theoretically. This in turn will help our observations and vice versa. Through these simulations we will build theories and models of how these extreme systems behave. We will use these simulations to try to understand the `dark' matter which constitutes much of the material
content of the Universe. We will use laboratory experimentation to develop new ways to observe these phenomena, building new instruments for the next generation of space missions.
This work also offers spin-off activities which often drive progress in areas far removed from astrophysics. Our department has an active programme of engagement with the wider community, particularly school age children, who are thrilled to hear about research in the Department. We will maintain a strong commitment to knowledge transfer for academic beneficiaries.
Our research seeks to understand basic processes in our own and other galaxies, addressing questions of great interest to the wider public. We will search for new planets orbiting nearby stars which may mimic the planets that are present in our own solar system or possibly be very different, such as hot Neptunes, or Super Earths.
We will investigate some of the most extreme environments in our Universe by high energy astrophysics research focusing on extreme phenomena ranging from Galactic black hole binaries, through to active galactic nuclei and gamma-ray bursts. These studies will include the feedback processes that link black holes to the evolution of their host galaxies.
We will maintain and enhance a programme in stellar astronomy with emphasis on the astrophysics of white dwarf stars. We will be using high performance computers to simulate these systems theoretically. This in turn will help our observations and vice versa. Through these simulations we will build theories and models of how these extreme systems behave. We will use these simulations to try to understand the `dark' matter which constitutes much of the material
content of the Universe. We will use laboratory experimentation to develop new ways to observe these phenomena, building new instruments for the next generation of space missions.
This work also offers spin-off activities which often drive progress in areas far removed from astrophysics. Our department has an active programme of engagement with the wider community, particularly school age children, who are thrilled to hear about research in the Department. We will maintain a strong commitment to knowledge transfer for academic beneficiaries.
Planned Impact
The applicants offer a diverse skill set that constitute a valuable resource to the private and public sectors. We have extensive experience and expertise in e.g. data analysis and handling, spacecraft and mission management, algorithm design, software engineering and high performance computing. Exploitation of this expertise is supported at all levels within the University. The Department of Physics and Astronomy is committed to
promoting and maximising the impact of our research. The College of Science and Engineering plays a leading role in the Enterprise Agenda for the University and offers dedicated enterprise officers and impact enhancing resources. Further support is provided by the University's Enterprise and Business Development Office, which works with academics and external stakeholders to create maximum impact in the local, provide national, and international community. This structure (i) delivers enterprising impact through the alignment of our research with major global and industrial challenges, (ii) identifies and addresses the opportunities to play a positive role in the economic development of our region and the UK, (iii) utilises research and related activities to develop skills and capability within a broad spectrum of the public and private sectors, (iv) provides expert advice and
guidance to industry and policy makers, (v) ensures that its intellectual property is effectively transferred and disseminated, and (vi) contributes to the wider cultural benefit of society through an enterprising and engaging outreach programme.
The long term impact strategy has four elements:
(1) to support and develop the skills and experience of the applicants;
(2) to ensure that links with public and private sector industries are developed, cultivated and maximised;
(3) to disseminate knowledge, skills and expterise to the benefit of the local, national and international business and civic communities;
(4) to sustain and develop our successful outreach programme with particular emphasis on enhancing our efforts to develop valid outcome measures.
promoting and maximising the impact of our research. The College of Science and Engineering plays a leading role in the Enterprise Agenda for the University and offers dedicated enterprise officers and impact enhancing resources. Further support is provided by the University's Enterprise and Business Development Office, which works with academics and external stakeholders to create maximum impact in the local, provide national, and international community. This structure (i) delivers enterprising impact through the alignment of our research with major global and industrial challenges, (ii) identifies and addresses the opportunities to play a positive role in the economic development of our region and the UK, (iii) utilises research and related activities to develop skills and capability within a broad spectrum of the public and private sectors, (iv) provides expert advice and
guidance to industry and policy makers, (v) ensures that its intellectual property is effectively transferred and disseminated, and (vi) contributes to the wider cultural benefit of society through an enterprising and engaging outreach programme.
The long term impact strategy has four elements:
(1) to support and develop the skills and experience of the applicants;
(2) to ensure that links with public and private sector industries are developed, cultivated and maximised;
(3) to disseminate knowledge, skills and expterise to the benefit of the local, national and international business and civic communities;
(4) to sustain and develop our successful outreach programme with particular emphasis on enhancing our efforts to develop valid outcome measures.
Publications
West R. G.
(2016)
The Next Generation Transit Survey Becomes Operational at Paranal
in The Messenger
Bianchi Luciana
(2016)
Characterization of the hot white dwarfs population in the Milky Way with GALEX, SDSS, PanSTARRS, and HST, to understand post-AGB evolution.
in 41st COSPAR Scientific Assembly
Evans N. W.
(2016)
The alignment of the second velocity moment tensor in galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Williams JO
(2016)
Towards a Graphene-Based Low Intensity Photon Counting Photodetector.
in Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
Abbott B
(2016)
SUPPLEMENT: "LOCALIZATION AND BROADBAND FOLLOW-UP OF THE GRAVITATIONAL-WAVE TRANSIENT GW150914" (2016, ApJL, 826, L13)
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Evans P. A.
(2016)
Optimization of the Swift X-ray follow-up of Advanced LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave triggers in 2015-16
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Preval S. P.
(2016)
Understanding the spectrum of the very hot DA white dwarf PG0948+534
in ArXiv e-prints
King Andrew
(2016)
ULXs: Neutron stars versus black holes
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Smith R. K.
(2016)
Arcus: the x-ray grating spectrometer explorer
in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray
Fletcher Mark
(2016)
Planets, debris and their host metallicity correlations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
King Andrew
(2016)
Black holes in stellar-mass binary systems: expiating original spin?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Abbott B. P.
(2016)
LOCALIZATION AND BROADBAND FOLLOW-UP OF THE GRAVITATIONAL-WAVE TRANSIENT GW 150914
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS
Abbott B. P.
(2016)
Supplement: "Localization and Broadband Follow-up of the Gravitational-wave Transient GW150914" (2016, ApJL, 826, L13)
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Baker SH
(2016)
Structure and magnetism in Cr-embedded Co nanoparticles.
in Journal of physics. Condensed matter : an Institute of Physics journal
Tilley F
(2016)
Scanning tunneling microscopy contrast of isovalent impurities on the GaAs (110) surface explained with a geometrical model
in Physical Review B
Sanders Jason L.
(2016)
Indirect dark matter detection for flattened dwarf galaxies
in Physical Review D
Goad M. R.
(2016)
Space Telescope and Optical Reverberation Mapping Project. IV. Anomalous Behavior of the Broad Ultraviolet Emission Lines in NGC 5548
in The Astrophysical Journal
Faedi F.
(2016)
WASP-86b and WASP-102b: super-dense versus bloated planets
in arXiv e-prints
Troyer J
(2016)
Correlated X-ray/ultraviolet/optical variability in NGC 6814
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Levan A. J.
(2016)
Late Time Multi-wavelength Observations of Swift J1644+5734: A Luminous Optical/IR Bump and Quiescent X-Ray Emission
in The Astrophysical Journal
Reeves J. N.
(2016)
DISCOVERY OF BROAD SOFT X-RAY ABSORPTION LINES FROM THE QUASAR WIND IN PDS 456
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2016)
Extensive X-ray variability studies of NGC 7314 using long XMM-Newton observations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
King Andrew
(2016)
Black hole winds II: Hyper-Eddington winds and feedback
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Vaughan S
(2016)
False periodicities in quasar time-domain surveys
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Burningham Ben
(2016)
A LOFAR mini-survey for low-frequency radio emission from the nearest brown dwarfs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Copperwheat C. M.
(2016)
Liverpool Telescope follow-up of candidate electromagnetic counterparts during the first run of Advanced LIGO
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Scowen Paul A.
(2016)
Finding the UV-Visible Path Forward: Proceedings of the Community Workshop to Plan the Future of UV/Visible Space Astrophysics
in ArXiv e-prints
Cucchiara Antonino
(2016)
GRBs as Probes of the IGM
in Space Science Reviews
Willingale R.
(2016)
Aberrations in square pore micro-channel optics used for x-ray lobster eye telescopes
in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray
Zubovas Kastytis
(2016)
The small observed scale of AGN-driven outflows, and inside-out disc quenching
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Abbott B. P.
(2016)
Localization and Broadband Follow-up of the Gravitational-wave Transient GW150914
in The Astrophysical Journal
Nealon Rebecca
(2016)
Apsidal precession, disc breaking and viscosity in warped discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
King Andrew
(2016)
How big can a black hole grow?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dainotti Maria
(2016)
A Study of the Gamma-Ray Burst Fundamental Plane
in arXiv e-prints
Gosset L.
(2016)
Localization algorithms for micro-channel x-ray telescope on board SVOM space mission
in Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray
Collaboration G
(2016)
The Gaia mission
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
MacLeod C
(2016)
A systematic search for changing-look quasars in SDSS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Collaboration G
(2016)
Gaia Data Release 1. Summary of the astrometric, photometric, and survey properties
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Fausnaugh M. M.
(2016)
Space Telescope and Optical Reverberation Mapping Project. III. Optical Continuum Emission and Broadband Time Delays in NGC 5548
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pounds K
(2016)
Imprints of a high-velocity wind on the soft X-ray spectrum of PG1211+143
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Evans P. A.
(2016)
Swift follow-up of gravitational wave triggers: results from the first aLIGO run and optimization for the future
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Nayakshin Sergei
(2016)
Tidal Downsizing model - IV. Destructive feedback in planets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McGuire J. T. W.
(2016)
Detection of Three Gamma-ray Burst Host Galaxies at z ~ 6
in The Astrophysical Journal
Angus C. R.
(2016)
A Hubble Space Telescope survey of the host galaxies of Superluminous Supernovae
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lyman J. D.
(2016)
Hubble Space Telescope observations of the host galaxies and environments of calcium-rich supernovae
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Evans P
(2016)
Swift follow-up of the Gravitational Wave source GW150914
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
CTA Consortium The
(2016)
Contributions of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) to the 6th International Symposium on High-Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy (Gamma 2016)
in arXiv e-prints
Middleton Matthew J.
(2016)
Geometrical beaming of stellar mass ULXs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| Description | Royal Society Research Grant |
| Amount | £13,055 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RG170230 |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2017 |
| End | 10/2018 |
| Description | Creativity and Curiosity - Art meets astronomy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The project started as a discussion between artists and astronomers to stimulate new art and engage with new audiences. Events have included exhibitions of the artworks and associated discussion events across the county and abroad. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.creativityandcuriosity.com |
| Description | US NSF announcement of discovery of first gravitational wave source with electromagnetic counterpart - Oct 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | US National Science Foundation press release. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/page/press-release-gw170817 |
| Description | Various school visits, astronomical society lectures |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Many presentations, 100s of students, excellent questions and discussion. Audience figures are totals for activities during each year. Improvements in interest in applying for science degrees |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018 |