Clusters, starbursts and feedback into the environments of galaxies
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Each new generation of stars in our own and other galaxies contributes to the enrichment of the interstellar medium (ISM) in heavy elements. Over time, these heavy elements, which may be injected as gas or dust particles, and the outflows that carry them, progressively modify the way that new stars and planets form, as well as the overall properties of the galaxies themselves. Gaining a greater understanding of star formation and the ISM evolution of galaxies, and their interplay, has provided the motivation for the construction of a large number international facilities, including ALMA and the planned JCMT surveys, the VLT and Gemini 8-m telescopes, the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Herschel Space Observatory and the James Webb Space Telescope. The co-applicants on the current proposal are heavily involved in research in this area and plan to use these facilities to tackle a number of outstanding problems. These include the role of young star clusters in driving outflows from starburst galaxies; the relative contributions of supernovae and evolved stars to the dust enrichment of galaxies; determining the structures of hot cores in star formation regions via chemical evolution models; investigating the cycling of gas and dust between diffuse clouds and dark clouds; investigating how star-forming regions at high redshifts can be studied via their molecular emission; developing a 3D radiative transfer code to self-consistently treat clumped photodissociation regions located around ionized nebulae, in order to interpret forthcoming observations by ESA's Herschel Space Observatory; and investigating molecular processes in a number of extreme astrophysical environments.
Organisations
Publications
Pereira-Santaella M
(2013)
HERSCHEL /SPIRE SUBMILLIMETER SPECTRA OF LOCAL ACTIVE GALAXIES ,
in The Astrophysical Journal
Westmoquette M
(2009)
THE OPTICAL STRUCTURE OF THE STARBURST GALAXY M82. I. DYNAMICS OF THE DISK AND INNER-WIND
in The Astrophysical Journal
Indebetouw R
(2009)
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS IN THE IONIZED GAS OF 30 DORADUS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Westmoquette M
(2009)
THE OPTICAL STRUCTURE OF THE STARBURST GALAXY M82. II. NEBULAR PROPERTIES OF THE DISK AND INNER WIND
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gordon K
(2009)
THE DUST-TO-GAS RATIO IN THE SMALL MAGELLANIC CLOUD TAIL
in The Astrophysical Journal
Konstantopoulos I
(2009)
A SPECTROSCOPIC CENSUS OF THE M82 STELLAR CLUSTER POPULATION ,
in The Astrophysical Journal
Madden S
(2013)
An Overview of the Dwarf Galaxy Survey
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Nigra L.
(2008)
NGC 602 environment, kinematics and origins
in PUBLICATIONS OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC
Stock D
(2010)
A search for ejecta nebulae around Wolf-Rayet stars using the SHS Ha survey Wolf-Rayet ejecta nebulae
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
James B
(2009)
A VLT VIMOS study of the anomalous BCD Mrk 996: mapping the ionized gas kinematics and abundances
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Description | Used Hubble Space Telescope and large ground-based telescopes to determine the characteristics of actively star-forming galaxies. |
Exploitation Route | Published in arXiv (green open access) as well as in refereed journals. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
Description | June 2009: Talking about astronomy to public at Speakers' Corner, Hyde Park, London |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Participants set up two solar telescopes and answered questions from the public on astronomy. Wore sandwich boards saying "Ask me about the big bang". This was done again in Paris in Feb 2010. - |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
Description | UCL `Your Universe' exhibition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 2 talks each at the three events in Aug 2009, Mar and Oct 2010 Audiences of 30-60, ages 8 and above. Repeat visits |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010 |
Description | talk at the Greenwich planetarium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | One of a series of 3 talks over the summer given by coal-face astronomers. They converted my talk from powerpoint to display on the dome with sound and music, with me standing at the back with a microphone. Audience was the paying public with ~40 people |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | talk at the IoP public seminar series, title 'Starbursts: the juicy sweets of the universe' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 80 IoP members attended. - |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |