Open University Rolling Grant 2009 - 2014
Lead Research Organisation:
The Open University
Department Name: Physical Sciences
Abstract
The OU Astronomy Group seeks continuation of its Rolling Grant to support a program of observational, theoretical, laboratory and space based astronomical research and instrumentation development. Theme 1 Star formation: This theme aims to understand star formation of our Galaxy and the local universe, focussing on near and far infrared studies. We will pursue four interlinked projects working within our access to the Guaranteed Time data from the AKARI space infrared telescope, the LOFAR radio telescope, and ESO facilities. The projects lie at the heart of star formation astrophysics, building on past work on molecular cloud structure, far-IR astronomy and triggered and high mass star formation. Project 1.1 ASTRO-F Galactic Plane Survey Project 1.2 Massive star and starburst cluster formation Project 1.3 HERSCHEL Survey exploitation Project 1.4 LOFAR Galactic Plane Survey Theme 2 Planetary Astrophysics: This area includes observational searches for Exoplanets; exoplanet characterisation with HST and Spitzer, modelling Exoplanet atmospheres; the interior structure of Exoplanets; and the dynamics and migration physics involved in various planetary architectures; and models and exploitation of data from solar system terrestrial planetary atmospheres. Project 2.1 Exoplanet Dynamics Project 2.2 Exoplanet Structure and Evolution Project 2.3 Solar System terrestrial planetary atmospheres Theme 3 Extragalactic Infrared astronomy & Cosmology: This is an integrated research programme to trace the cosmic evolution of star-forming galaxies using major international far-infrared and submm-wave legacy surveys / key projects. Project 3.1 SCUBA-2 and AKARI Legacy Surveys Project 3.2 The HERSCHEL ATLAS Key Project Project 3.3 The Cosmic Near-Infrared Background Theme 4 Extreme Environment astrophysics: This program explores the interrelation between galactic environment and relativistic object content in nearby galaxies, to provide insights into high-mass star formation, relativistic object formation and high-energy phenomena that cannot be gained from observations in our own Galaxy alone; to study the counterparts of high-energy sources we identify in our X-ray surveys of nearby galaxies; and conduct numerical simulations to model the nature of the accretion flows and the nature of their X-ray populations Project 4.1 Relativistic accretors in nearby galaxies Project 4.2 Characterising compact accreting systems Project 4.3 Magnetic Cataclysmic Variable Populations Theme 5 Laboratory Astrochemistry; Exploring Chemical Complexity: The research is targeted at simulating chemical and physical processes within star and planet formation regions and planetary atmospheres and surfaces; The research programme is focused on two projects (i) exploring the nature of chemical complexity in the ISM and (ii) identification of biomarkers that will be used to exploit extant data, and lead to the identification of robust biogenic biomarker signals in Exoplanet atmospheres and surfaces. Project 5.1 The Chemistry of Star and Planet Formation. Project 5.2 Identifying biosignatures for Exoplanetary studies; Theme 6 Astronomical Instrumentation Development for Space Missions: This proposal aims to promote radiation damage studies for future space missions which are within the STFC programme. The activity includes: a) Laboratory study of radiation damage and other environmental factors affecting scientific instrumentation on space missions, b) To provide low-level support to our collaboration with China on their first national X-ray astronomy mission, HXMT, c) To provide support at the early stage of future project studies, for both space and ground based instrumentation Project 6.1 Laboratory Studies of Radiation Damage (1 PDRA) Project 6.2 Radiation Damage support for the HXMT project
Publications
Abergel A
(2010)
Evolution of interstellar dust with Herschel . First results in the photodissociation regions of NGC 7023
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Alibert Y
(2010)
Origin and formation of planetary systems.
in Astrobiology
Amblard A
(2010)
Herschel -ATLAS: Dust temperature and redshift distribution of SPIRE and PACS detected sources using submillimetre colours
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Anderson L
(2010)
The physical properties of the dust in the RCW 120 H ii region as seen by Herschel
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
André P
(2010)
From filamentary clouds to prestellar cores to the stellar IMF: Initial highlights from the Herschel Gould Belt Survey
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Arab H
(2012)
Evolution of dust in the Orion Bar with Herschel I. Radiative transfer modelling
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Asgekar A
(2013)
LOFAR detections of low-frequency radio recombination lines towards Cassiopeia A
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Austermann J
(2010)
AzTEC half square degree survey of the SHADES fields â?? I. Maps, catalogues and source counts
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Baes M
(2010)
Herschel -ATLAS: The dust energy balance in the edge-on spiral galaxy UGC 4754
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Bailey J
(2011)
Magnetic field and atmospheric chemical abundances of the magnetic Ap star HD 318107
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Barnard R
(2009)
A second black hole candidate in a M31 globular cluster is identified with XMM-Newton
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Barros S
(2010)
WASP-38b: a transiting exoplanet in an eccentric, 6.87d period orbit
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bending V
(2013)
Benchmark experiments with global climate models applicable to extrasolar gas giant planets in the shallow atmosphere approximation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bendo G
(2010)
The JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey - III. Comparisons of cold dust, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, molecular gas and atomic gas in NGC 2403
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Benedict G
(2011)
DISTANCE SCALE ZERO POINTS FROM GALACTIC RR LYRAE STAR PARALLAXES
in The Astronomical Journal
Bernard J
(2010)
Dust temperature tracing the ISRF intensity in the Galaxy
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Bernard-Salas J
(2012)
Spatial variation of the cooling lines in the Orion Bar from Herschel /PACS
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bewsher D
(2010)
Determination of the Photometric Calibration and Large-Scale Flatfield of the STEREO Heliospheric Imagers: I. HI-1
in Solar Physics
Bloom J
(2012)
A COMPACT DEGENERATE PRIMARY-STAR PROGENITOR OF SN 2011fe
in The Astrophysical Journal
Bonfield D
(2011)
Herschel-ATLAS: the link between accretion luminosity and star formation in quasar host galaxies? H-ATLAS: quasar hosts with Herschel
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bontemps S
(2010)
The Herschel first look at protostars in the Aquila rift
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Bouchy F
(2010)
WASP-21b: a hot-Saturn exoplanet transiting a thick disc star
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Bracco A
(2011)
Herschel-ATLAS: statistical properties of Galactic cirrus in the GAMA-9 Hour Science Demonstration Phase Field Statistical properties of Galactic cirrus
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Brack A
(2010)
Origin and evolution of life on terrestrial planets.
in Astrobiology
Buckle J
(2012)
The JCMT Legacy Survey of the Gould Belt: mapping 13CO and C18O in Orion A GBS HARP survey: Orion A
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Butters O
(2010)
The first WASP public data release
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Butters O
(2009)
RXTE confirmation of the intermediate polar status of IGR J15094-6649
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Butters O
(2010)
RXTE and XMM observations of intermediate polar candidates
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Butters O
(2009)
Circular polarization survey of intermediate polars I. Northern targets in the range 17 h < RA < 23 h
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
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
Castellanos P
(2011)
Dust-correlated centimetre-wave radiation from the M78 reflection nebula Cm-wavelength continuum in M78
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Christian D
(2009)
WASP-10b: a 3M J , gas-giant planet transiting a late-type K star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Christie H
(2012)
CO depletion in the Gould Belt clouds CO depletion in the Gould Belt clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Clark J
(2012)
On the nature of candidate luminous blue variables in M 33
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Clark J
(2012)
On the nature of the galactic early-B hypergiants
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Clark J
(2009)
Bolometric luminosity variations in the luminous blue variable AFGL2298
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Clark J
(2011)
A VLT/FLAMES survey for massive binaries in Westerlund 1 III. The WC9d binary W239 and implications for massive stellar evolution?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Clark J
(2009)
The P Cygni supergiant [OMN2000] LS1 - implications for the star formation history of W51
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Clark J
(2010)
A serendipitous survey for variability amongst the massive stellar population of Westerlund 1
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Clark J
(2009)
The binary nature of the Galactic centre X-ray source CXOGC J174536.1-285638
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Clark J
(2009)
A third red supergiant rich cluster in the Scutum-Crux arm
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Clements D
(2010)
Herschel -ATLAS: Extragalactic number counts from 250 to 500 microns
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Cockell CS
(2009)
Darwin--a mission to detect and search for life on extrasolar planets.
in Astrobiology
Collier Cameron A
(2009)
The main-sequence rotation???colour relation in the Coma Berenices open cluster
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Coppin K
(2011)
Herschel-Astrophysical Terahertz Large Area Survey: detection of a far-infrared population around galaxy clusters? Far-infrared excess around clusters in H-ATLAS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Crowther P
(2010)
NGC 300 X-1 is a Wolf-Rayet/black hole binary
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Davies B
(2009)
CHEMICAL ABUNDANCE PATTERNS IN THE INNER GALAXY: THE SCUTUM RED SUPERGIANT CLUSTERS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Davies B
(2012)
The G305 star-forming complex: the central star clusters Danks 1 and Danks 2 The young star clusters Danks 1 and Danks 2
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Description | This supported a varied programme of astronomical research at the Open University. Outputs have been published in peer-reviewed, and unrefereed papers and catalogues. |
Exploitation Route | These results were rolled into the next Consolidated Grant that was awarded. |
Sectors | Education |
Description | As a basis for a number of Television News interviews on different astronomical subjects As part of Open University Teaching material |
First Year Of Impact | 2009 |
Sector | Education |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | Edinburgh |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Department | Theoretical Particle Physics (PPT) Research Group |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Contribution of expertise; also some travel funds for visits of the collaborator to Durham and Glasgow. |
Collaborator Contribution | A member of Edinburgh University joined an existing project looking at properties of soft gluons in multiparton scattering. This has led to new developments, aided by the combination of complementary expertise. Edinburgh have also contributed with some financial assistance (e.g. accommodation for visits). |
Impact | So far there have been two published research papers (see publications). |
Start Year | 2010 |