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
Mountrichas G
(2009)
QSO-LRG two-point cross-correlation function and redshift-space distortions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Swinbank A
(2010)
A Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS and ACS morphological study of z ~ 2 submillimetre galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lu T
(2010)
Large-scale structure and dynamics of the most X-ray luminous galaxy cluster known - RX J1347-1145
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Benson A
(2010)
Galaxy formation spanning cosmic history Galaxy formation spanning cosmic history
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Poppett C
(2010)
The dependence of the properties of optical fibres on length
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Weijmans A
(2010)
Dissecting the Lyman a emission halo of LAB1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fine S
(2010)
The C iv linewidth distribution for quasars and its implications for broad-line region dynamics and virial mass estimation The C iv linewidth distribution
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Allington-Smith J
(2010)
Astrophotonic spectroscopy: defining the potential advantage
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Swinbank A
(2009)
A spatially resolved map of the kinematics, star formation and stellar mass assembly in a star-forming galaxy at z = 4.9
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bower R
(2008)
The flip side of galaxy formation: a combined model of galaxy formation and cluster heating
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McCarthy I
(2008)
Ram pressure stripping the hot gaseous haloes of galaxies in groups and clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McGee S
(2009)
The accretion of galaxies into groups and clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Goulding A
(2010)
Towards a complete census of active galactic nuclei in nearby galaxies: the incidence of growing black holes The incidence of growing black holes
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Goulding A
(2009)
Towards a complete census of AGN in nearby Galaxies: a large population of optically unidentified AGN
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lira P
(2008)
An infrared study of the double nucleus in NGC 3256
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Norris M
(2008)
Gemini/GMOS spectroscopy of the spheroid and globular cluster system of NGC 3923
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Balogh M
(2009)
The colour of galaxies in distant groups
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Balogh M
(2010)
The stellar and hot gas content of low-mass galaxy clusters Stars and hot gas in low-mass galaxy clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mitchell N
(2009)
On the origin of cores in simulated galaxy clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Croom S
(2009)
The 2dF-SDSS LRG and QSO Survey: the spectroscopic QSO catalogue
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wilman R
(2009)
Integral field spectroscopy of ionized and molecular gas in cool cluster cores: evidence for cold feedback?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ivison R
(2010)
Gas, dust and stars in the SCUBA galaxy, SMM J0136: the EVLA reveals a colossal galactic nursery
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Danielson A
(2010)
The properties of the interstellar medium within a star-forming galaxy at z= 2.3 The ISM in a z= 2.3 star-forming galaxy
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hartley W
(2008)
The clustering and abundance of star-forming and passive galaxies at z ~ 2
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gilbank D
(2011)
Erratum: The local star formation rate density: assessing calibrations using [O ii], Ha and UV luminosities Erratum
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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 |