Extragalactic Astronomy at Durham 2008-2013
Lead Research Organisation:
Durham University
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
Over recent years observational astronomers at Durham have been at the forefront of many major advances in the study of galaxies and cosmology. We have a publication and citation record which we believe speaks for itself (see proposal introduction). Durham astronomers currently lead major international projects that exploit many of the the world's foremost ground and space observatories. We will capitalize on our proven track record in AGN studies, precision spectrophotometric analysis of stellar populations in nearby galaxies, multiwavelength studies of galaxy populations at high redshift and panoramic QSO and galaxy surveys, to answer open questions which lie at the core of modern astrophysics. In this proposal we present the case for support of a coherent and comprehensive programme that builds on our strengths and seizes new opportunities. Our programme addresses key questions in the STFC Roadmap, such as ``What are the laws of physics in extreme conditions?'', ``How do galaxies, stars and planets form and evolve?'' and ``What is the Universe made of and how does it evolve?''. This proposal is constructed around the four core themes of our research: Theme A: AGN: outflows from black holes their growth and environment Theme B: Galaxy evolution and archaeology and closely related to this; Theme C: feedback and the formation of galaxies Theme D: Survey cosmology, using galaxies and clusters as probes of large scale structure and evolution There is a well established deep rooted synergy between our work and the research of the ICC group, and the instrumentation group (CfAI).
Publications
Menendez-Delmestre Karin
(2007)
Mid-infrared spectroscopy of high-redshift submillimeter galaxies:: First results
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Chapman S. C.
(2008)
INTERFEROMETRIC CO OBSERVATIONS OF SUBMILLIMETER-FAINT, RADIO-SELECTED STARBURST GALAXIES AT
z ~ 2
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Prestwich A. H.
(2007)
The orbital period of the Wolf-Rayet binary IC 10 X-1: Dynamic evidence that the compact object is a black hole
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Tian Lirong
(2008)
On the origin of magnetic helicity in the solar corona
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Rauch Michael
(2008)
A population of faint extended line emitters and the host galaxies of optically thick QSO absorption systems
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Gilbert Holly R.
(2008)
The filament-moreton wave interaction of 2006 December 6
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Jenkins L. P.
(2007)
Uncovering the near-IR dwarf galaxy population of the coma cluster with
Spitzer IRAC
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Alexander D. M.
(2008)
RELIABLE IDENTIFICATION OF COMPTON-THICK QUASARS AT z ˜ 2:
SPITZER MID-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY OF HDF-oMD49
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Silverman J. D.
(2008)
The evolution of agn host galaxies: From blue to red and the influence of large-scale structures
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Liu Rui
(2007)
Kink-induced catastrophe in a coronal eruption
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Vazquez Gerardo A.
(2007)
Constraints on accretion in ultraluminous X-ray sources from Spitzer IRS observations of NGC 4485/4490:: Infrared diagnostic diagrams
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Pope Alexandra
(2008)
THE NATURE OF FAINT
SPITZER-SELECTED DUST-OBSCURED GALAXIES
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Geach J. E.
(2006)
A panoramic mid-infrared survey of two distant clusters
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Steffen A. T.
(2007)
Chandra stacking constraints on the contribution of 24 µm
Spitzer sources to the unresolved cosmic X-ray background
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Smail Ian
(2007)
A very bright, highly magnified Lyman break galaxy at
z=3.07
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Poggianti BM
(2006)
The evolution of the star formation activity in galaxies and its dependence on environment
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Wilman D. J.
(2008)
Unveiling the important role of groups in the evolution of massive galaxies: Insights from an infrared passive sequence at intermediate redshift
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Daddi E.
(2007)
Multiwavelength study of massive galaxies at z ~ 2.: I.: Star formation and galaxy growth
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Aharonian F.
(2007)
An exceptional very high energy gamma-ray flare of PKS 2155-304
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Daddi E.
(2007)
Multiwavelength study of massive galaxies at z ~ 2.: II.: Widespread compton-thick active galactic nuclei and the concurrent growth of black holes and bulges
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Limousin Marceau
(2007)
Combining strong and weak gravitational lensing in abell 1689
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Papovich C
(2006)
Spitzer observations of massive, red galaxies at high redshift
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Alonso-Herrero Almudena
(2008)
The host galaxies and black holes of typical
z ~ 0.5-1.4 AGNs
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
O'Dea Christopher P.
(2008)
An infrared survey of brightest cluster galaxies. II. Why are some brightest cluster galaxies forming stars?
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Ebeling H.
(2007)
A complete sample of 12 very X-ray luminous galaxy clusters at
z>0.5
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Description | The programme funded by this grant produce a number of observational insights into fundamental features of galaxies, black holes and large-scale structure. To give just one example, using the newly-completed Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) we undertook the first survey of extreme starburst galaxies in the distant Universe, demonstrating that these galaxies are very likely to be the progenitors of the most massive galaxies seen today in the local Universe, but seen in an early and very active phase of formation. |
Exploitation Route | Further academic research or through the development of new facilities (e.g. ELT and SKA) or observational programmes. |
Sectors | Education |
URL | http://www.astro.dur.ac.uk/Cosmology |
Description | 6dFGS survey |
Organisation | Australian Astronomical Observatory |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Data analysis and construction of the FP catalogue, i.e. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014MNRAS.443.1231C |
Collaborator Contribution | Many other science contributions, e.g. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014MNRAS.444.3926J http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014MNRAS.445.2677S http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016MNRAS.455..386S |
Impact | now focused on mostly exclusively on 6dF++, i.e. TAIPAN http://www.taipan-survey.org/ Map the southern cosmography with ~110 k redshifts. First detailed map of the southern hemisphere peculiar velocities. |
Description | 6dFGS survey |
Organisation | Australian National University (ANU) |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Data analysis and construction of the FP catalogue, i.e. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014MNRAS.443.1231C |
Collaborator Contribution | Many other science contributions, e.g. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014MNRAS.444.3926J http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014MNRAS.445.2677S http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016MNRAS.455..386S |
Impact | now focused on mostly exclusively on 6dF++, i.e. TAIPAN http://www.taipan-survey.org/ Map the southern cosmography with ~110 k redshifts. First detailed map of the southern hemisphere peculiar velocities. |
Description | Wide field astronomical surveys |
Organisation | University of Hawaii |
Department | Institute for Astronomy |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Durham an offical partnet in the Pan-STARRS consortium, which operate a telescope in Hawaii. |
Collaborator Contribution | They provide the telscope and operations support. |
Impact | The principle output is research papers published in refereed journals. |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | Seminars and invited talks |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Paper Presentation |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | All of the co-applicants on this grants have given numberous seminars and invited talks at universities and international meetings and conferences. These activities help to enhance the wider knowledge of our research, and foster new collaborations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008,2009,2010,2011,2012 |