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
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
Shelyag S
(2010)
A photospheric bright point model
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
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
Young P
(2018)
A Si iv/O iv Electron Density Diagnostic for the Analysis of IRIS Solar Spectra
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jess D
(2010)
A STUDY OF MAGNETIC BRIGHT POINTS IN THE Na I D 1 LINE
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Jess D
(2009)
Alfve´n Waves in the Lower Solar Atmosphere
in Science
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
Hellier C
(2009)
An orbital period of 0.94 days for the hot-Jupiter planet WASP-18b.
in Nature
Crockett P
(2009)
Automated detection and tracking of solar magnetic bright points
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Walsh C
(2010)
CHEMICAL PROCESSES IN PROTOPLANETARY DISKS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hall P
(2010)
Complex molecule formation in grain mantles
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Chapman J
(2009)
Cyanopolyynes in hot cores: modelling G305.2+0.2
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
Hsieh H
(2012)
DISCOVERY OF MAIN-BELT COMET P/2006 VW 139 BY Pan-STARRS1
in The Astrophysical Journal
Vigren E
(2010)
DISSOCIATIVE RECOMBINATION OF PROTONATED FORMIC ACID: IMPLICATIONS FOR MOLECULAR CLOUD AND COMETARY CHEMISTRY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Smoker J
(2011)
Distance limits to intermediate- and high-velocity clouds? Distance limits to IHVCs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jess D
(2008)
Do All Flares Have White-Light Emission?
in The Astrophysical Journal
Smoker J
(2011)
Early-type stars observed in the ESO UVES Paranal Observatory Project - III. Sub-parsec and au-scale structure in the interstellar medium? Sub-parsec and au-scale structure in the ISM
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hamada K
(2010)
Effective collision strengths for optically allowed transitions among degenerate levels of hydrogenic ions with
in Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables
Nomura H
(2008)
Effects of accretion flow on the chemical structure in the inner regions of protoplanetary disks
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
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
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
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
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
(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, radiative rates and electron impact excitation rates for transitions in Li-like N V, F VII, Ne VIII and Na IX
in Physica Scripta
Ferland G
(2013)
EXPANDED IRON UTA SPECTRA-PROBING THE THERMAL STABILITY LIMITS IN AGN CLOUDS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kuridze D
(2013)
Failed filament eruption inside a coronal mass ejection in active region 11121
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gibson N
(2010)
Ground-based detection of thermal emission from the exoplanet WASP-19b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
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
Phillips K
(2010)
Highly Ionized sodium X-ray line emission from the solar corona and the abundance of sodium
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Simpson E
(2011)
INDEPENDENT DISCOVERY OF THE TRANSITING EXOPLANET HAT-P-14b
in The Astronomical Journal
Jones D
(2010)
Kinematics of the ring-like nebula SuWt 2
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Shelyag S
(2012)
MECHANISMS FOR MHD POYNTING FLUX GENERATION IN SIMULATIONS OF SOLAR PHOTOSPHERIC MAGNETOCONVECTION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jess D
(2010)
MICROFLARE ACTIVITY DRIVEN BY FORCED MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Quan Donghui
(2008)
New theoretical results concerning the interstellar abundance of molecular oxygen
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Faedi F
(2011)
New transiting exoplanets from the SuperWASP-North survey
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Milligan R
(2012)
OBSERVATIONS OF ENHANCED EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET CONTINUA DURING AN X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE USING SDO /EVE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Morton R
(2011)
OBSERVATIONS OF SAUSAGE MODES IN MAGNETIC PORES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Shelyag S
(2011)
Photospheric magnetic vortex structures
in Annales Geophysicae
Keys P
(2018)
Photospheric Observations of Surface and Body Modes in Solar Magnetic Pores
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
(2010)
ROSA: A High-cadence, Synchronized Multi-camera Solar Imaging System
in Solar Physics
Rudawy P
(2010)
Search for Rapid Changes in the Visible-Light Corona during the 21 June 2001 Total Solar Eclipse
in Solar Physics
Kuridze D
(2011)
Small-scale H a jets in the solar chromosphere
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
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
Skillen I
(2009)
The 0.5 M J transiting exoplanet WASP-13b
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
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 |