Gas, dust and stars: the life cycle of galaxies
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The Universe is in constant evolution. Stars form out of clouds of gas. They live by burning hydrogen into helium, and later into carbon and oxygen. The nuclear burning takes place in the centre of the stars, but the products are brought to the surface and change the composition of the star. At the end of its life, the star will expel half or more of its mass in a catastrophic wind. The material blown off from these evolved stars forms fantastic and beautiful structures (e.g. Planetary Nebulae), we don't fully understand the physics that generates the structures but suspect that binary systems and magnetic fields are a factor. The wind expels the newly formed elements into space where they enrich clouds of gas. Thus, the next generation of stars will benefit from these new elements. At the same time, some elements condense as small particles, forming dust grains. These grains are also added to the clouds. When new stars form from this cloud, some of this dust will start the formation of planets. We are studying this cycle of evolution of stars, dust and gas. We study the input of new dust into the interstellar medium, looking at a variety of objects, with special emphasis on conditions of low metallicity, as existed in the early Universe. We study how stars form, especially stars more massive than the Sun. We look at the properties of dust over a complete galaxy (the Large Magelanic Cloud is the main target). We also study the chemistry of interstellar and circumstellar gas. We are also trying to understand how the presence of binary systems can affect the physics of the mass-loss process. The solar system is itself the result of this Universe of evolution. Dust left over from its formation is still present, incorporated in large grains or even comets and meteorites. Space craft are now collecting this dust. One of the goals of our research is to find the progeny of the proto-solar dust, among the outflows of other stars.
Publications
Asanok K
(2010)
OH and H 2 O masers towards the star-forming region S140-IRS1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Beltran M. T.
(2008)
Dissection of the protostellar envelope surrounding IRAS 05173-0555 in L1634
in ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
Bernard J
(2008)
SPITZER SURVEY OF THE LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD, SURVEYING THE AGENTS OF A GALAXY'S EVOLUTION (SAGE). IV. DUST PROPERTIES IN THE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM
in The Astronomical Journal
Bernard-Salas J
(2009)
UNUSUAL DUST EMISSION FROM PLANETARY NEBULAE IN THE MAGELLANIC CLOUDS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Boumis P
(2009)
A long trail behind the planetary nebula HFG1 (PK 136+05) and its pre-cataclysmic binary central star V664 Cas
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Boyer M
(2010)
Cold dust in three massive evolved stars in the LMC
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Buckle J
(2010)
The JCMT Legacy Survey of the Gould Belt: a first look at Orion B with HARP
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cami J
(2009)
THE DETECTION OF INFRARED SiS BANDS IN SPECTRA OF S STARS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Cami J
(2010)
SPECTRAFACTORY.NET: A DATABASE OF MOLECULAR MODEL SPECTRA
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Caswell J
(2010)
The 6-GHz methanol multibeam maser catalogue - I. Galactic Centre region, longitudes 345° to 6° Methanol maser catalogue: Galactic Centre
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Chesneau O.
(2009)
A dense disk of dust around the born-again Sakurai's object
in ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
Connelley M
(2009)
A PHOTOMETRICALLY AND MORPHOLOGICALLY VARIABLE INFRARED NEBULA IN L483
in The Astronomical Journal
Corradi R
(2009)
IPHAS and the symbiotic stars II. New discoveries and a sample of the most common mimics
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Davis C
(2010)
The JCMT Legacy Survey of the Gould Belt: a first look at Taurus with HARP
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
De Beck E
(2010)
Probing the mass-loss history of AGB and red supergiant stars from CO rotational line profiles II. CO line survey of evolved stars: derivation of mass-loss rate formulae
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
De Vries B
(2010)
Determining the forsterite abundance of the dust around asymptotic giant branch stars
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Drake J
(2009)
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPIC DIAGNOSIS OF A WIND-COLLIMATED BLAST WAVE AND METAL-RICH EJECTA FROM THE 2006 EXPLOSION OF RS OPHIUCHI
in The Astrophysical Journal
Duarte-Cabral A
(2010)
The physical and dynamical structure of Serpens Two very different sub-(proto)clusters
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Ellingsen S
(2010)
Masers associated with high-mass star formation regions in the Large Magellanic Cloud Masers in the LMC
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Eyres S
(2009)
Double radio peak and non-thermal collimated ejecta in RS Ophiuchi following the 2006 outburst
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gesicki K
(2010)
Disk evaporation in a planetary nebula
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Giammanco C
(2010)
IPHAS extinction distances to planetary nebulae
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gielen C
(2010)
SPITZER-IRS spectral fitting of discs around binary post-AGB stars ( Corrigendum )
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Gielen C
(2009)
Chemical depletion in the Large Magellanic Cloud: RV Tauri stars and the photospheric feedback from their dusty discs
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Goddi C
(2009)
MASER EMISSION FROM SiO ISOTOPOLOGUES TRACES THE INNERMOST 100 AU AROUND RADIO SOURCE I IN ORION BECKLIN-NEUGEBAUER/KLEINMANN-LOW
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gonzlez-Solares E
(2008)
Initial data release from the INT Photometric H Survey of the Northern Galactic Plane (IPHAS)
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gordon K
(2010)
Determining dust temperatures and masses in the Herschel era: The importance of observations longward of 200 micron
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Graves S
(2010)
The JCMT Legacy Survey of the Gould Belt: a first look at Serpens with HARP GBS: first look at Serpens
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gray M
(2008)
Saturation and spectral asymmetry in 1612 MHz shell masers
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gray M
(2009)
SiO maser emission in Miras
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Green J
(2009)
The 6-GHz multibeam maser survey - I. Techniques
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Green J
(2008)
Multibeam maser survey of methanol and excited OH in the Magellanic Clouds: new detections and maser abundance estimates
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Green J
(2009)
HIGH-MASS STAR FORMATION IN THE NEAR AND FAR 3 kpc ARMS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Green J
(2010)
The 6-GHz methanol multibeam maser catalogue - II. Galactic longitudes 6° to 20° Methanol maser catalogue: 6° to 20°
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Groot P
(2009)
The UV-Excess survey of the northern Galactic plane
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hajduk M
(2010)
Binary [WR] and wels central stars of planetary nebulae Binary WR and wels central stars of PNe
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hajduk M.
(2008)
An occultation event in the nucleus of the planetary nebula M 2-29
in ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
Hatchell J.
(2008)
Star formation in Perseus - IV. Mass-dependent evolution of dense cores
in ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
Hony S
(2010)
The Herschel revolution: Unveiling the morphology of the high-mass star-formation sites N44 and N63 in the LMC
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Hounsell R
(2010)
EXQUISITE NOVA LIGHT CURVES FROM THE SOLAR MASS EJECTION IMAGER (SMEI)
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jones D
(2010)
Abell 41: shaping of a planetary nebula by a binary central star? Abell 41: shaped by a binary central star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jones D
(2010)
Kinematics of the ring-like nebula SuWt 2
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kemper F.
(2010)
The SAGE-Spec Spitzer Legacy Program: The Life Cycle of Dust and Gas in the Large Magellanic Cloud
in PUBLICATIONS OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC
Kniazev A
(2008)
The metallicity extremes of the Sagittarius dSph: SALT spectroscopy of PNe ?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lagadec E
(2009)
Metal-rich carbon stars in the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lagadec E
(2008)
The trigger of the asymptotic giant branch superwind: the importance of carbon
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Lagadec E
(2010)
The low wind expansion velocity of metal-poor carbon stars in the Halo and the Sagittarius stream
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Leisenring J. M.
(2008)
Effects of metallicity on the chemical composition of carbon stars
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Lykou F
(2011)
A disc inside the bipolar planetary nebula M2-9
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Matsuura M
(2009)
The global gas and dust budget of the Large Magellanic Cloud: AGB stars and supernovae, and the impact on the ISM evolution
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| Description | The research covered a number of topics. A prime goal was to complete survey the Galaxy for sites of star formation and for evolved stars, using radio, sub-millimetre, infrared and optical surveys wavelengths. Much progress was made on this project, which will last over a decade. We also surveyed the Large Magellanic Clouds at wavelengths sensitive to dust .Sites of high-mass-star formation in the Galaxy were studied, later leading to a high impact program with the ALMA observatory. We worked on the catastrophic mass loss which ends the life of normal (sun-like) stars. and studied how this depends on the type of star. |
| Exploitation Route | This is continuing research, widely disseminated through papers and meetings, and leading to follow-on grants and observing programs, both from the applicants and other teams in the world. |
| Sectors | Education |
| Description | The research covered in this award has featured heavy in our outreach activities. The study of planetary nebulae especialy is visually very appealing. During this grant, outreach activities at the JBCA operated through the Visitor Centre at the Observatory, the JBCA website, working with schools and community groups, and strong links with both the print and broadcast media. The strength of the outreach programme was recognised by the award of grants from STFC, the IoP, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Arts Council and Agilent Technologies. The Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre has exhibitions on astronomy and associated technology and attracted 70,000 visitors each year, around half of whom are school age. It is widely agreed that astronomy and space science/technology, symbolised by iconic facilities such as Jodrell Bank, draws young people into studying science and then into the wider economy (e.g. Barstow report Bringing space into school science, Oct 2005). The success lead to the acceptance by the University and Northwest development agency for an ambitious new centre at Jodrell Bank, to be a signature project for the northwest region, and the UK as a whole. The unique became a vital part of the bid for hosting the SKA International Office at the Observatory which later added 60 high level jobs to Cheshire East. JBCA also delivers innovative public engagement events, such as: First Light - live performance of a new composition featuring signals picked up live by the Lovell Telescope and from microphones placed on the structure itself, turning it into a giant musical instrument; Moonbounce - poems written for a national competition organised by The Times were recited in front of an audience and sent as radio signals to the Moon, their echoes were received 2.5 seconds later by the Lovell Telescope and played back live. The Jodrell website contains information for a wide range of audiences and receives around 140,000 visits each month. A highlight is The Jodcast, our podcast featuring astronomy news and in-depth interviews with scientists and engineers, now attracting over 2,000 downloads per twice-monthly episode. Jodrell has a 7-metre radio telescope with a digital hydrogen-line receiver which is controlled remotely over the web (http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/distance/observatory). This has been used for several years on undergraduate distance learning courses and has recently been piloted for use by schools in the UK and across Europe as part of the European Hands-On Universe project. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2008 |
| Sector | Education |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic |
| Description | Isabel Aleman |
| Organisation | Universidade de São Paulo |
| Country | Brazil |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Research facilities |
| Collaborator Contribution | Salary and secondment of Isabel Aleman |
| Impact | Research papers |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Phil Diamond |
| Organisation | Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Secondment of Phil Diamond as a director of the institute |
| Collaborator Contribution | Salary |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Phil Diamond |
| Organisation | Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Africa |
| Country | South Africa |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Secondment of Phil Diamond as SKA director |
| Collaborator Contribution | Salary |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | The Jodcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Since 2006, we have produced a podcast called the Jodcast. This is led by our research students and reaches an audience of around 7,000 for each twice monthly show. The podcast includes the latest news in astronomy, interviews and ask an astronomer sections. Each month since Jan 2012 the show features a "Jodbite" in which one of the researchers in the group is interviewed about their work. Impact is measured by downloads: each episode gets about 5000 downloads. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016 |
| URL | http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/jodcast/ |