Support for an observing programme at the University of Hertfordshire
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Hertfordshire
Department Name: Science and Technology RI
Abstract
The Centre for Astrophysics Research (CAR) at the University of Hertfordshire has a very wide range of observational programmes. Some examples are: Using a variety of techniques, CAR astronomers study galaxy and structure formation and evolution, over all cosmic epochs. We use massive bursts of star formation to investigate early epochs of galaxy formation and evolution. These are highly obscured at optical and even near-infrared wavelengths, and hence best observed through the reprocessed submillimetre emission from warm dust, using instruments such as SCUBA (SCUBA-2) on the JCMT. Over-dense regions of the early universe can be explored by targeting the fields of known high-redshift active galactic nuclei (AGN) at submillimetre wavelengths. Such AGN are amongst the most massive objects in existence at their epoch and should signpost rare high-density peaks of the dark matter distribution. CAR astronomers play a key role in the international THINGS collaboration. THINGS, short for 'The HI Nearby Galaxy Survey', is a large program at the NRAO Very Large Array, to perform 21-cm HI observations of nearby galaxies. The goal is to investigate key characteristics related to galaxy morphology, star formation and mass distribution across the Hubble sequence of galaxies. On an overall very different size scale, CAR astronomers address the key issues of the formation and evolution of cosmic objects that range over scales from high-mass stars to brown dwarfs (sub-stellar objects with a mass below that necessary to maintain hydrogen-burning), and exoplanets. We study the stellar population of Local Group galaxies, including the Milky Way, to trace age and metallicity gradients as well as their structure using stars in different evolutionary stages. We also study the earliest phases of the chemical evolution of the Milky Way by recording the high-resolution spectra of extremely old stars which preserve the fossil record of the Galaxy's earliest epochs. From this we can learn about the Big Bang and the conditions in the newly forming Galaxy when its first stars were emerging. Low to intermediate mass stars (0.8 to 8 solar masses) end their days as cooling white dwarfs. This is a transition that will be undergone by the majority of stars in the Galaxy, probably including the Sun, and these end phases of a star's life are characterized by huge mass loss, which is the major source of dust and chemically enriched material in the interstellar medium. This is studied using a variety of techniques including imaging polarimetry. Understanding how stars form remains one of the major goals of modern astrophysics research, as it underpins the study of a range of phenomena, such as the formation and evolution of galaxies (including our own), the formation of the first stars in the Universe through to our own Solar System and others like it, and perhaps of life itself. We now largely concentrate on massive stars as these are a powerful force in our Galaxy and others, acting to disrupt giant molecular clouds and trigger new generations of star formation before exploding as supernovae. Once massive stars have formed they are highly visible but their earliest stages are still shrouded in secrecy as their birthplaces are hidden deep within the densest regions of dark molecular clouds and radio/submm observations are needed to probe these obscured regions. We are involved in a wide variety of programmes to detect and characterise extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs, and we are one of just a few groups worldwide to discover nearby extrasolar planets (over 40). We are pioneering a number of new extrasolar planet projects , including transits of low mass stars, with the aim of detecting extrasolar 'Earths' within the habitable zones of their parent stars.
Organisations
- University of Hertfordshire (Lead Research Organisation)
- Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- HARVARD UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Leiden University (Collaboration)
- University of Manchester (Collaboration)
- University of Warwick (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- McMaster University (Collaboration)
- The Open University (Collaboration)
- University of Graz (Collaboration)
- Radboud University Nijmegen (Collaboration)
Publications
Birkby J
(2012)
Discovery and characterization of detached M dwarf eclipsing binaries in the WFCAM Transit Survey WTS: masses and radii of M dwarf EBs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cappetta M
(2012)
The first planet detected in the WTS: an inflated hot Jupiter in a 3.35 d orbit around a late F star Inflated HJ in close orbit around a late-F-star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Goulding N
(2013)
J-band variability of M dwarfs in the WFCAM Transit Survey
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
(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
Hindson L
(2010)
The G305 star-forming complex: wide-area molecular mapping of NH3 and H2O masers The G305 star-forming complex
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hough J
(2008)
Grain alignment in dense interstellar environments: spectropolarimetry of the 4.67-µm CO-ice feature in the field star Elias 16 (Taurus dark cloud)
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mackenzie T
(2011)
A pilot study for the SCUBA-2 'All-Sky' Survey A pilot study for the SCUBA-2 All-Sky Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Morgan L
(2009)
CO observations towards bright-rimmed clouds CO observations towards bright-rimmed clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Nefs S
(2012)
Four ultra-short-period eclipsing M-dwarf binaries in the WFCAM Transit Survey Eclipsing M-dwarf binaries in WTS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Parsons H
(2012)
Molecular clumps in the W51 giant molecular cloud Molecular clumps in W51
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pinfield D
(2012)
Discovery of the benchmark metal-poor T8 dwarf BD +01° 2920B Benchmark metal-poor T8 dwarf BD +01° 2920B
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Raddi R
(2013)
First results of an Ha based search of classical Be stars in the Perseus Arm and beyond
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Urquhart J
(2009)
Observational study of sites of triggered star formation CO and mid-infrared observations
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Walsh A
(2011)
The H2O Southern Galactic Plane Survey (HOPS) - I. Techniques and H2O maser data HOPS I: Techniques and H2O masers
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Whittet D. C. B.
(2008)
The efficiency of grain alignment in dense interstellar clouds: A reassessment of constraints from near-infrared polarization
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Wilson C
(2012)
The JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey - VIII. CO data and the LCO(3-2)-LFIR correlation in the SINGS sample
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Title | IPHAS DR2 |
Description | 219-million line catalogue presenting r/i/H-alpha uniformly-calibrated digital photometry of stars in the northern Galactic Plane, to a faint limit of 20th magnitude |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2014 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | The catalogue has been ingested by CDS Strasbourg to make it world-accessible. Some users also access data on the IPHAS website. |
URL | http://www.iphas.org/ |
Description | IPHAS |
Organisation | Harvard University |
Department | Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator institute All observing requests since the survey's 2003 inception written by PI. UH has taken prominent roles in science exploitation and is in charge of major catalogue releases (e.g. DR2 in 2014). |
Collaborator Contribution | Have contributed to observing effort, formulation of policy and science exploitation. Not all partners listed (see website for complete list). |
Impact | Publications including a world-accessible database of astronomical photometry - see publications area on iphas website, www.iphas.org. |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | IPHAS |
Organisation | Imperial College London |
Department | Department of Physics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator institute All observing requests since the survey's 2003 inception written by PI. UH has taken prominent roles in science exploitation and is in charge of major catalogue releases (e.g. DR2 in 2014). |
Collaborator Contribution | Have contributed to observing effort, formulation of policy and science exploitation. Not all partners listed (see website for complete list). |
Impact | Publications including a world-accessible database of astronomical photometry - see publications area on iphas website, www.iphas.org. |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | IPHAS |
Organisation | Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator institute All observing requests since the survey's 2003 inception written by PI. UH has taken prominent roles in science exploitation and is in charge of major catalogue releases (e.g. DR2 in 2014). |
Collaborator Contribution | Have contributed to observing effort, formulation of policy and science exploitation. Not all partners listed (see website for complete list). |
Impact | Publications including a world-accessible database of astronomical photometry - see publications area on iphas website, www.iphas.org. |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | IPHAS |
Organisation | Radboud University Nijmegen |
Department | Department of Astrophysics |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator institute All observing requests since the survey's 2003 inception written by PI. UH has taken prominent roles in science exploitation and is in charge of major catalogue releases (e.g. DR2 in 2014). |
Collaborator Contribution | Have contributed to observing effort, formulation of policy and science exploitation. Not all partners listed (see website for complete list). |
Impact | Publications including a world-accessible database of astronomical photometry - see publications area on iphas website, www.iphas.org. |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | IPHAS |
Organisation | University College London |
Department | Department of Physics & Astronomy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator institute All observing requests since the survey's 2003 inception written by PI. UH has taken prominent roles in science exploitation and is in charge of major catalogue releases (e.g. DR2 in 2014). |
Collaborator Contribution | Have contributed to observing effort, formulation of policy and science exploitation. Not all partners listed (see website for complete list). |
Impact | Publications including a world-accessible database of astronomical photometry - see publications area on iphas website, www.iphas.org. |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | IPHAS |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Department | Institute of Astronomy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator institute All observing requests since the survey's 2003 inception written by PI. UH has taken prominent roles in science exploitation and is in charge of major catalogue releases (e.g. DR2 in 2014). |
Collaborator Contribution | Have contributed to observing effort, formulation of policy and science exploitation. Not all partners listed (see website for complete list). |
Impact | Publications including a world-accessible database of astronomical photometry - see publications area on iphas website, www.iphas.org. |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | IPHAS |
Organisation | University of Graz |
Department | Institute of Physics |
Country | Austria |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator institute All observing requests since the survey's 2003 inception written by PI. UH has taken prominent roles in science exploitation and is in charge of major catalogue releases (e.g. DR2 in 2014). |
Collaborator Contribution | Have contributed to observing effort, formulation of policy and science exploitation. Not all partners listed (see website for complete list). |
Impact | Publications including a world-accessible database of astronomical photometry - see publications area on iphas website, www.iphas.org. |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | IPHAS |
Organisation | University of Manchester |
Department | School of Physics and Astronomy Manchester |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator institute All observing requests since the survey's 2003 inception written by PI. UH has taken prominent roles in science exploitation and is in charge of major catalogue releases (e.g. DR2 in 2014). |
Collaborator Contribution | Have contributed to observing effort, formulation of policy and science exploitation. Not all partners listed (see website for complete list). |
Impact | Publications including a world-accessible database of astronomical photometry - see publications area on iphas website, www.iphas.org. |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | IPHAS |
Organisation | University of Warwick |
Department | Department of Physics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Principal Investigator institute All observing requests since the survey's 2003 inception written by PI. UH has taken prominent roles in science exploitation and is in charge of major catalogue releases (e.g. DR2 in 2014). |
Collaborator Contribution | Have contributed to observing effort, formulation of policy and science exploitation. Not all partners listed (see website for complete list). |
Impact | Publications including a world-accessible database of astronomical photometry - see publications area on iphas website, www.iphas.org. |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey |
Organisation | Leiden University |
Department | Leiden Observatory |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | participated in drafting the proposal; participated in the observations; participated in drafting the science papers |
Collaborator Contribution | participated in drafting the proposal; participated in the observations; participated in drafting the science papers |
Impact | See Wilson et al. MNRAS (2012) 424 (4): 3050-3080. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.21453.x and references therein. |
Description | JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey |
Organisation | McMaster University |
Department | Department of Physics & Astronomy |
Country | Canada |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | participated in drafting the proposal; participated in the observations; participated in drafting the science papers |
Collaborator Contribution | participated in drafting the proposal; participated in the observations; participated in drafting the science papers |
Impact | See Wilson et al. MNRAS (2012) 424 (4): 3050-3080. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.21453.x and references therein. |
Description | JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey |
Organisation | Open University |
Department | School of Physical Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | participated in drafting the proposal; participated in the observations; participated in drafting the science papers |
Collaborator Contribution | participated in drafting the proposal; participated in the observations; participated in drafting the science papers |
Impact | See Wilson et al. MNRAS (2012) 424 (4): 3050-3080. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.21453.x and references therein. |