Astrophysics at Queen's University Belfast: 2008 - 2013
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch of Mathematics and Physics
Abstract
We propose a co-ordinated programme of observational and theoretical astrophysics, involving the study of astronomical sources ranging from the Sun to supernovae in distant galaxies. Major Themes which will be covered by our Rolling Grant programme include: solar physics, in particular the use of high-cadence imaging to study activity and variability in the solar atmosphere and how these affect energy transport; the investigation of solar system bodies, including comets and asteroids and in particular Near-Earth Objects, which may represent an impact hazard to the Earth; astrochemistry, specifically the development of theoretical models of star formation regions and circumstellar discs, including those which may form planets; studies of hot stars, both young massive OB-type objects and those at an evolved stage of evolution, such as post-Asymptotic Giant Branch stars; the discovery and characterisation of planets orbiting stars other than the Sun (exoplanets), including possible Earth-sized objects; studies of supernovae and their progenitor stars, and how they influence galaxy evolution through dust production and chemical enrichment.
Organisations
Publications
Aggarwal K
(2010)
Energy levels, radiative rates and electron impact excitation rates for transitions in H-like N VII, O VIII, F IX, Ne X and Na XI
in Physica Scripta
Aggarwal K
(2010)
Energy levels, radiative rates and electron impact excitation rates for transitions in Li-like N V, F VII, Ne VIII and Na IX
in Physica Scripta
Aggarwal K
(2011)
Energy levels, radiative rates and electron impact excitation rates for transitions in He-like Li II, Be III, B IV and C V
in Physica Scripta
Aggarwal K
(2010)
Energy levels and radiative rates for transitions in B-like to F-like Xe ions (Xe L-XLVI)
in Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables
Barros S
(2010)
WASP-38b: a transiting exoplanet in an eccentric, 6.87d period orbit
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Barros S
(2012)
High-precision transit observations of the exoplanet WASP-13b with the RISE instrument Transit observations of WASP-13b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Barros S
(2010)
WASP-38b: a transiting exoplanet in an eccentric, 6.87d period orbit
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Barros S
(2011)
A lower mass for the exoplanet WASP-21b A lower mass for the exoplanet WASP-21b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Barros S
(2013)
Transit timing variations in WASP-10b induced by stellar activity
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bentley S
(2009)
The masses and radii of HD 186753B and TYC7096-222-1B: the discovery of two M-dwarfs that eclipse A-type stars
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Botticella M
(2009)
SN 2008S: an electron-capture SN from a super-AGB progenitor?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Butovich IA
(2008)
Understanding and analyzing meibomian lipids--a review.
in Current eye research
Chapman J
(2009)
Cyanopolyynes in hot cores: modelling G305.2+0.2
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Christian D
(2009)
WASP-10b: a 3M J , gas-giant planet transiting a late-type K star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cordiner M
(2009)
DENSITY-ENHANCED GAS AND DUST SHELLS IN A NEW CHEMICAL MODEL FOR IRC+10216
in The Astrophysical Journal
Crockett P
(2010)
THE AREA DISTRIBUTION OF SOLAR MAGNETIC BRIGHT POINTS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Crockett P
(2009)
Automated detection and tracking of solar magnetic bright points
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Exter K
(2010)
THE EXOTIC ECLIPSING NUCLEUS OF THE RING PLANETARY NEBULA SuWt 2
in The Astronomical Journal
Faedi F
(2011)
New transiting exoplanets from the SuperWASP-North survey
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Ferland G
(2013)
EXPANDED IRON UTA SPECTRA-PROBING THE THERMAL STABILITY LIMITS IN AGN CLOUDS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gibson N
(2008)
Updated parameters for the transiting exoplanet WASP-3b using RISE, a new fast camera for the Liverpool Telescope
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gibson N
(2009)
A TRANSIT TIMING ANALYSIS OF NINE RISE LIGHT CURVES OF THE EXOPLANET SYSTEM TrES-3
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gibson N
(2010)
A transit timing analysis of seven RISE light curves of the exoplanet system HAT-P-3
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gibson N
(2010)
Ground-based detection of thermal emission from the exoplanet WASP-19b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Grieve M
(2013)
Electron impact excitation of Mg VIII Collision strengths, transition probabilities and theoretical EUV and soft X-ray line intensities for Mg VIII?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hall P
(2010)
Complex molecule formation in grain mantles
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Hamada K
(2010)
Effective collision strengths for optically allowed transitions among degenerate levels of hydrogenic ions with
in Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables
Hellier C
(2009)
An orbital period of 0.94 days for the hot-Jupiter planet WASP-18b.
in Nature
Hsieh H
(2010)
SuperWASP observations of the 2007 outburst of Comet 17P/Holmes SuperWASP observations of 17P/Holmes
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hsieh H
(2012)
DISCOVERY OF MAIN-BELT COMET P/2006 VW 139 BY Pan-STARRS1
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jess D
(2008)
Do All Flares Have White-Light Emission?
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jess D
(2012)
THE SOURCE OF 3 MINUTE MAGNETOACOUSTIC OSCILLATIONS IN CORONAL FANS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jess D
(2010)
MICROFLARE ACTIVITY DRIVEN BY FORCED MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jess D
(2012)
PROPAGATING WAVE PHENOMENA DETECTED IN OBSERVATIONS AND SIMULATIONS OF THE LOWER SOLAR ATMOSPHERE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jess D
(2012)
THE ORIGIN OF TYPE I SPICULE OSCILLATIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jess D
(2010)
ROSA: A High-cadence, Synchronized Multi-camera Solar Imaging System
in Solar Physics
Jess D
(2010)
A STUDY OF MAGNETIC BRIGHT POINTS IN THE Na I D 1 LINE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jess DB
(2009)
Alfvén waves in the lower solar atmosphere.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Jones D
(2010)
Kinematics of the ring-like nebula SuWt 2
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Keenan F
(2009)
Ultraviolet and extreme-ultraviolet line ratio diagnostics for O IV
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Keenan F
(2010)
Emission lines of Fe xi in the 257-407 Å wavelength region observed in solar spectra from EIS/ Hinode and SERTS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Keenan F
(2011)
A search for line intensity enhancements in the far-UV spectra of active late-type stars arising from opacity
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Keys P
(2013)
Tracking magnetic bright point motions through the solar atmosphere
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Keys P
(2018)
Photospheric Observations of Surface and Body Modes in Solar Magnetic Pores
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kuridze D
(2013)
Failed filament eruption inside a coronal mass ejection in active region 11121
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kuridze D
(2011)
Small-scale H a jets in the solar chromosphere
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kuridze D
(2012)
TRANSVERSE OSCILLATIONS IN CHROMOSPHERIC MOTTLES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Laha S
(2015)
Ultraviolet emission lines of Si ii in cool star and solar spectra
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lawson K
(2011)
An analysis of VUV C IV emission from the JET divertor giving measurements of electron temperatures
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Milligan R
(2012)
TIME-DEPENDENT DENSITY DIAGNOSTICS OF SOLAR FLARE PLASMAS USING SDO /EVE
in The Astrophysical Journal
| Description | Advances in understanding how the solar atmosphere is heated, discovery of exoplanets, supernovae and solar system bodies such as asteroids. |
| Exploitation Route | Astrophysics is a constantly evolving topic, with all work (in particular published work) being taken forward by researchers both within and outside the research team that undertook the original work. |
| Sectors | Education |
| Description | Publications in journals have been cited by other researchers who have then themselves undertaken further work in the research field (as indeed have the authors of the original publications). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2008 |
| Sector | Education |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | STFC Astronomy Grants |
| Amount | £1,674,429 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/L000709/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2014 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | Annual in-house activities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Astronomy lectures and presentations are given at the following annual events: (i) QUB Horizons in Physics} (which attracts around 400 4th- and 5th-form students per year), (ii) Physics Open Days (around 200 6th-form students), (iii) Physics Teachers Conference (about 50 Physics teachers from schools in Ireland). Increased take-up of Physics and Astronomy degree programme over last 3 years. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | Pre-2006,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2014 |
| Description | Links with W5 Discovery Centre |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | An ongoing partnership with the W5 Discovery Centre in Belfast (Ireland's award-winning science and discovery centre). We developed the Planet Quest exhibition, based on explaining the multi-wavelength nature of modern astronomy. This includes spectacular infrared images from telescopes and satellites, information stands on the nature of infrared radiation, and hands on activities for children. It showcases high-profile Queen's astrophysics research to illustrate to the public that world-leading, technology-driven research is happening in Belfast. The exhibition initially ran March - September 2012, attracting 10,000 visitors, and we hope to run it again during the period 2014 - 2017. Astrophysics staff also host talks, Q&A sessions and hands-on building games in W5 (aimed at Key Stage 3 pupils), and further support W5 through the creation of astronomy CPD materials and a centralised web resource for secondary school physics teachers. Increased interest in astronomy and science from schoolchildren. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013 |
| Description | Michael West lectures |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We have initiated a series of high-profile public lectures, The Michael West Lecture Series in Astronomy, following a philanthropic donation from Dr West which funds a Fellowship with a major outreach and education component. These lectures, which are scheduled typically twice per year, each attract 200 people, and are now the most widely attended public lecture series at Queen's University and indeed in Ireland as a whole. Increased requests for e.g. school talks. Media interviews. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014 |
| URL | https://star.pst.qub.ac.uk/wiki/public/outreach/start |
| Description | School visits |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | All members of the Astrophysics Research Centre (ARC) at Queen's University are involved in schools talks, covering their research topics as well as more general interests in astronomy. Most are at secondary level but also at primary (we actively take part in STEPS), either in the classroom or at Queen's. ARC staff deliver a total of about 40 talks/year to pupils, with typical class sizes of 25. Hard to assess, but in Northern Ireland uptake of Physics at university level has increased steadily in recent years, in contrast to the UK trend. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | Pre-2006,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |