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
Brack A
(2010)
Origin and evolution of life on terrestrial planets.
in Astrobiology
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
Pearson C
(2010)
The AKARI FU-HYU galaxy evolution program: first results from the GOODS-N field
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Clark J
(2010)
A serendipitous survey for variability amongst the massive stellar population of Westerlund 1
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Bewsher D
(2010)
Determination of the Photometric Calibration and Large-Scale Flatfield of the STEREO Heliospheric Imagers: I. HI-1
in Solar Physics
Polehampton E
(2010)
The ISO Long Wavelength Spectrometer line spectrum of VY Canis Majoris and other oxygen-rich evolved stars
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Serjeant S
(2010)
Herschel ATLAS: The cosmic star formation history of quasar host galaxies
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Men'shchikov A
(2010)
Filamentary structures and compact objects in the Aquila and Polaris clouds observed by Herschel
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Butters O
(2010)
RXTE and XMM observations of intermediate polar candidates
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Street R
(2010)
WASP-24 b: A NEW TRANSITING CLOSE-IN HOT JUPITER ORBITING A LATE F-STAR
in The Astrophysical Journal
Clements D
(2010)
Herschel -ATLAS: Extragalactic number counts from 250 to 500 microns
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
White G
(2010)
Herschel -SPIRE spectroscopy of the DR21 molecular cloud core
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Negrello M
(2010)
The detection of a population of submillimeter-bright, strongly lensed galaxies.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
McCleese D
(2010)
Structure and dynamics of the Martian lower and middle atmosphere as observed by the Mars Climate Sounder: Seasonal variations in zonal mean temperature, dust, and water ice aerosols
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Amblard A
(2010)
Herschel -ATLAS: Dust temperature and redshift distribution of SPIRE and PACS detected sources using submillimetre colours
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Jarvis M
(2010)
Herschel-ATLAS: the far-infrared-radio correlation at z < 0.5? The far-infrared-radio correlation at z < 0.5
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Miville-Deschênes M
(2010)
Herschel -SPIRE observations of the Polaris flare: Structure of the diffuse interstellar medium at the sub-parsec scale
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Rodón J
(2010)
Physical properties of the Sh2-104 H II region as seen by Herschel
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
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
Negueruela I
(2010)
Another cluster of red supergiants close to RSGC1
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Gebran M
(2010)
Chemical composition of A and F dwarfs members of the Hyades open cluster
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Motte F
(2010)
Initial highlights of the HOBYS key program, the Herschel imaging survey of OB young stellar objects
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Wilson C
(2010)
The JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey - IV. Velocity dispersions in the molecular interstellar medium in spiral galaxies The JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey - IV
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Di Francesco J
(2010)
Small-scale structure in the Rosette molecular cloud revealed by Herschel
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Foulkes S
(2010)
SPH simulations of irradiation-driven warped accretion discs and the long periods in X-ray binaries
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Potter S
(2010)
Polarized QPOs from the INTEGRAL polar IGRJ14536-5522 (=Swift J1453.4-5524)
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Scaringi S
(2010)
Hard X-ray properties of magnetic cataclysmic variables
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Könyves V
(2010)
The Aquila prestellar core population revealed by Herschel
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Mathews G
(2010)
GAS in Protoplanetary Systems (GASPS) I. First results
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Oyabu S
(2010)
AKARI infrared bright source catalogues
Serjeant S
(2010)
The Dark and Dusty Side of Galaxy Evolution
Abergel A
(2010)
Evolution of interstellar dust with Herschel . First results in the photodissociation regions of NGC 7023
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Meeus G
(2010)
Gas in the protoplanetary disc of HD 169142: Herschel 's view
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Barros S
(2010)
WASP-38b: a transiting exoplanet in an eccentric, 6.87d period orbit
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Lee C
(2010)
A bulk cloud parameterization in a Venus General Circulation Model
in Icarus
Irwin J
(2010)
The JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey - V. The CO(J= 3-2) distribution and molecular outflow in NGC 4631 CO(J= 3-2) observations of NGC 4631
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kaltenegger L
(2010)
Deciphering spectral fingerprints of habitable exoplanets.
in Astrobiology
Ibar E
(2010)
H-ATLAS: PACS imaging for the Science Demonstration Phase PACS data reduction
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Russell D
(2010)
A long-term optical-X-ray correlation in 4U 1957+11
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bouchy F
(2010)
WASP-21b: a hot-Saturn exoplanet transiting a thick disc star
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Lewis S
(2010)
Data Assimilation
Katajainen S
(2010)
DISCOVERY OF POLARIZED EMISSION FROM TWO SOFT X-RAY-EMITTING INTERMEDIATE POLARS: UU Col AND NY Lup
in The Astrophysical Journal
Holmes S
(2011)
PIRATE: A Remotely Operable Telescope Facility for Research and Education
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Malbet F
(2011)
High precision astrometry mission for the detection and characterization of nearby habitable planetary systems with the Nearby Earth Astrometric Telescope (NEAT)
in Experimental Astronomy
Frayer D
(2011)
GREEN BANK TELESCOPE ZPECTROMETER CO(1-0) OBSERVATIONS OF THE STRONGLY LENSED SUBMILLIMETER GALAXIES FROM THE HERSCHEL ATLAS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Sánchez-Gallego J
(2011)
The JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey VI. The distribution of gas and star formation in M 81
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Eiroa C
(2011)
Herschel discovery of a new class of cold, faint debris discs
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Faedi F
(2011)
WASP-39b: a highly inflated Saturn-mass planet orbiting a late G-type star
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
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 |