Astrophysics Research at the University of Leicester
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Our research aims to investigate a range of high-priority science topics in these areas:
i. studying high-energy and high-redshift transients and the relation of transients to gravitational wave events
ii. investigating the growth and evolution of the first stars and black holes in galaxies
iii. determining the properties of powerful active galactic nuclei including the Broad Line Region
iv. measuring the fundamental properties of white dwarf stars
v. investigating the properties of exoplanets, brown dwarfs and low mass stars
vi. investigating accretion processes
vii exploring the formation of planets
We will deliver this programme by carrying out observations using a broad range of ground and space based observing facilities, including XMM-Newton, HST, Swift, GAIA, JWST, ALMA, VLT, WHT, INT, LT, NGTS, GOTO and SAAO, and by conducting numerical simulations using major High Performance Computer facilities such as DiRAC.
i. studying high-energy and high-redshift transients and the relation of transients to gravitational wave events
ii. investigating the growth and evolution of the first stars and black holes in galaxies
iii. determining the properties of powerful active galactic nuclei including the Broad Line Region
iv. measuring the fundamental properties of white dwarf stars
v. investigating the properties of exoplanets, brown dwarfs and low mass stars
vi. investigating accretion processes
vii exploring the formation of planets
We will deliver this programme by carrying out observations using a broad range of ground and space based observing facilities, including XMM-Newton, HST, Swift, GAIA, JWST, ALMA, VLT, WHT, INT, LT, NGTS, GOTO and SAAO, and by conducting numerical simulations using major High Performance Computer facilities such as DiRAC.
Publications
Abe H
(2022)
Gamma-ray observations of MAXI J1820+070 during the 2018 outburst
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Acharyya A
(2023)
Multiwavelength Observations of the Blazar PKS 0735+178 in Spatial and Temporal Coincidence with an Astrophysical Neutrino Candidate IceCube-211208A
in The Astrophysical Journal
Aharonian F
(2023)
The Vanishing of the Primary Emission Region in PKS 1510-089
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Aharonian F
(2023)
H.E.S.S. Follow-up Observations of GRB 221009A
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Alexander R
(2023)
The distribution of accretion rates as a diagnostic of protoplanetary disc evolution
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Arulanantham N
(2023)
Lya Scattering Models Trace Accretion and Outflow Kinematics in T Tauri Systems*
in The Astrophysical Journal
Bajaj N
(2024)
JWST MIRI MRS Observations of T Cha: Discovery of a Spatially Resolved Disk Wind
in The Astronomical Journal
Casewell S
(2024)
PHL 5038AB: is the brown dwarf causing pollution of its white dwarf host star?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Chen C
(2023)
Orbital stability of two circumbinary planets around misaligned eccentric binaries
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Chibueze J
(2022)
A MeerKAT, e-MERLIN, H.E.S.S., and Swift search for persistent and transient emission associated with three localized FRBs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Coughlin E
(2022)
A simple and accurate prescription for the tidal disruption radius of a star and the peak accretion rate in tidal disruption events
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Coughlin E
(2022)
On the Impact of Relativistic Gravity on the Rate of Tidal Disruption Events
in The Astrophysical Journal
Cufari M
(2023)
Tidal capture of stars by supermassive black holes: implications for periodic nuclear transients and quasi-periodic eruptions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Debes J
(2023)
The Surprising Evolution of the Shadow on the TW Hya Disk*
in The Astrophysical Journal
Dyer M
(2022)
The Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO)
Elbakyan V
(2022)
Gap opening by planets in discs with magnetized winds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Evans P
(2023)
Monthly quasi-periodic eruptions from repeated stellar disruption by a massive black hole
in Nature Astronomy
| Description | ENGRAVE |
| Organisation | European Southern Observatory (ESO) |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Our Leicester team is part of a large international collaboration to use ESO telescopes and others, for follow-up of the electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational wave events. Tanvir is a member of the governing council of ENGRAVE. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration has over 250 members, who bring diverse expertise. In particular, real time duties are the responsibility of a core group of about 40 people currently. |
| Impact | One paper submitted so far. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | STARGATE |
| Organisation | European Southern Observatory (ESO) |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Tanvir is PI of a large collaboration whose goal is to obtain optical/nIR follow-up observations of gamma-ray bursts using ESO facilities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaboration consists of a (geographically spread) core group who trigger and analyse the rapid target-of-opportunity observations, plus a wider group who contribute to planning, interpretation and analysis for at least some of the specialised sub-projects. (the number of partner institutions in this sense is large and fluid, and they are not individually listed. Similarly the value of the in-kind contributions is not well defined; except for ESO for which the value recorded here is a rough estimate) |
| Impact | About 15 papers written to date. |
| Start Year | 2016 |