Accretion discs, Astrophysical dynamos, Planetary formation, Exoplanet systems, Solar and stellar phenomena and non equilibrium physical processes
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics
Abstract
This is a proposal to investigate a number of phenomena: The first is astrophysical discs. These objects are common, being found in close binary systems, active galactic nuclei, and around newly formed stars. There they provide the environment for planet formation. We propose in depth studies of these objects to establish the physical conditions that apply, for instance the degree of turbulence, the magnetic field strength, the amount of anomalous transport and whether the discs remain circular. We then intend to investigate the effects of this environment on forming planets and their orbital migration. If inward, this natuarlly leads on to a consideration of tidal interaction with the central star which may cause heating and inflation, which appears to be common, or even coallescence with the central star. Such a study requires a fully nonlinear tidal theory for general orbits that we intend to develop. The second investigation relates to solar type stars which many extrasolar planets orbit. It accordingly connects with the investigation of tidal interaction. This investigation is directed towards understanding the behaviour of the solar dynamo and how magnetic flux emerges at the surface. This can be determined from Hinode obsrvations of active regions. Both analytic and numerical studies of dynamo processes will be undertaken together with improved modeling of the solar tachocline which may play an important role in generating toroidal field that rises buoyantly to the surface.
Publications
Alexander C
(2011)
Hinode observations and 3D magnetic structure of an X-ray bright point
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Balbus S
(2010)
Differential rotation in fully convective stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Balbus S
(2009)
Differential rotation and convection in the Sun
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Barker A
(2009)
On the tidal evolution of Hot Jupiters on inclined orbits
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Barker A
(2010)
On internal wave breaking and tidal dissipation near the centre of a solar-type star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bemporad A.
(2009)
Multispacecraft observations of a prominence eruption
in ANNALES GEOPHYSICAE
Bushby P
(2010)
The influence of a-effect fluctuations and the shear-current effect upon the behaviour of solar mean-field dynamo models a-Effect fluctuations in a solar dynamo model
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Courvoisier A
(2010)
A self-consistent treatment of the electromotive force in magnetohydrodynamics for large diffusivities
in Astronomische Nachrichten
Crida A
(2010)
MIGRATION OF A MOONLET IN A RING OF SOLID PARTICLES: THEORY AND APPLICATION TO SATURN'S PROPELLERS
in The Astronomical Journal
Del Zanna G
(2011)
The EUV spectrum of the Sun: SOHO CDS NIS irradiances from 1998 until 2010
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Del Zanna G
(2009)
Benchmarking atomic data for astrophysics: Fe VII and other cool lines observed by Hinode EIS
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Del Zanna G
(2009)
Benchmarking atomic data for astrophysics: Fe XVII EUV lines
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Del Zanna G
(2009)
Benchmarking atomic data for astrophysics: Fe VIII EUV lines
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Del Zanna G
(2010)
The 22 May 2007 B-class flare: new insights from Hinode observations
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Del Zanna G
(2010)
Atomic data from the IRON project LXVIII. Electron impact excitation of Fe xi
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Del Zanna G
(2011)
A single picture for solar coronal outflows and radio noise storms
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Del Zanna G
(2010)
The EUV spectrum of the Sun: long-term variations in the SOHO CDS NIS spectral responsivities
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Faure J
(2014)
Thermodynamics of the dead-zone inner edge in protoplanetary disks
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Faure J
(2015)
Vortex cycles at the inner edges of dead zones in protoplanetary disks
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Fromang S
(2013)
Local outflows from turbulent accretion disks
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Garaud P
(2010)
A model of the entropy flux and Reynolds stress in turbulent convection Turbulent convection
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gibson S
(2010)
THREE-DIMENSIONAL MORPHOLOGY OF A CORONAL PROMINENCE CAVITY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gu P
(2009)
Diurnal thermal tides in a non-synchronized hot Jupiter
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Heinemann T
(2009)
The excitation of spiral density waves through turbulent fluctuations in accretion discs - I. WKBJ theory
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Heinemann T
(2009)
The excitation of spiral density waves through turbulent fluctuations in accretion discs - II. Numerical simulations with MRI-driven turbulence
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Heinemann T
(2012)
A weakly non-linear theory for spiral density waves excited by accretion disc turbulence Weakly non-linear spiral density waves
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hughes DW
(2010)
Turbulent magnetic diffusivity tensor for time-dependent mean fields.
in Physical review letters
Ivanov P
(2010)
Inertial waves in rotating bodies: a WKBJ formalism for inertial modes and a comparison with numerical results Inertial waves in rotating bodies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ivanov P
(2011)
Close encounters of a rotating star with planets in parabolic orbits of varying inclination and the formation of hot Jupiters
in Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy
Jouve L
(2010)
Buoyancy-induced time delays in Babcock-Leighton flux-transport dynamo models
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Latter H
(2009)
The viscous overstability, nonlinear wavetrains, and finescale structure in dense planetary rings
in Icarus
Latter H
(2012)
The gravitational instability of a stream of co-orbital particles The instability of co-orbital particles
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Latter H
(2012)
The HBI in a quasi-global model of the intracluster medium The HBI in a quasi-global model of the ICM
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Latter H
(2012)
The dynamics of inner dead-zone boundaries in protoplanetary discs Dead-zone boundaries in protoplanetary discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Latter H
(2012)
The ballistic transport instability in Saturn's rings - I. Formalism and linear theory The ballistic transport instability - I
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Latter H
(2010)
Hydrodynamical simulations of viscous overstability in Saturn's rings
in Icarus
Latter H
(2014)
The ballistic transport instability in Saturn's rings - II. Non-linear wave dynamics
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Latter H
(2014)
The ballistic transport instability in Saturn's rings - III. Numerical simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Latter H
(2012)
Hysteresis and thermal limit cycles in MRI simulations of accretion discs Hysteresis in MRI simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lesur G
(2010)
The subcritical baroclinic instability in local accretion disc models
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Lesur G
(2010)
On the angular momentum transport due to vertical convection in accretion discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Lesur G
(2009)
On the stability of elliptical vortices in accretion discs
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Liang G
(2009)
R-matrix calculations for electron impact excitation
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Lin M
(2011)
Edge modes in self-gravitating disc-planet interactions Edge modes
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lin M
(2011)
The effect of self-gravity on vortex instabilities in disc-planet interactions Vortex instabilities with self-gravity
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lin M
(2010)
Type III migration in a low-viscosity disc
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mann P
(2009)
Competing local and non-local a-effects for a simplified flux transport dynamo model
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
O'Dwyer B
(2010)
Hinode extreme-ultraviolet imaging spectrometer observations of a limb active region
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
O'Dwyer B
(2010)
SDO/AIA response to coronal hole, quiet Sun, active region, and flare plasma
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
| Description | Quota Studentships |
| Amount | £520,730 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2008 |
| End | 09/2013 |
| Description | Royal Society International Joint Project with Japan |
| Amount | £12,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2010 |
| End | 12/2011 |
| Description | UK APAP Network |
| Amount | £316,993 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | PP/E001254/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2008 |
| End | 02/2011 |
| Description | Royal Society International Joint Project with Japan |
| Organisation | National Astronomical Observatory of Japan |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Theoretical input on the theory of planet formation and planetary rings |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of expertise related to N body codes applied to simulations of planet fromation and planetary rings |
| Impact | The development of N body codes for simulating particles in the Uranus ring system |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | STFC-funded UK APAP Network Ref: PP/E001254/1 |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Department | Department of Physics & Astronomy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The group has done atomic physics calculations, have benchmarked them against experimental data, and used them for the analysis of spectra from stellar coronae. They have also distributed the atomic data within CHIANTI and VAMDC (an EU FP7 network). |
| Collaborator Contribution | UCL provides a world-wide leader in atomic physics who has collaborated with the group on calculating atomic data for a large number of ions important for astrophysics. |
| Impact | In the Jan 2006 - Dec 2010 timeframe the APAP team published 101 refereed papers. They are all highest-quality papers, describing atomic data which are used world-wide by almost all atomic databases and modelling codes, and are directly or indirectly cited by hundreds of refereed papers per year. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | STFC-funded UK APAP Network Ref: PP/E001254/1 |
| Organisation | University of Strathclyde |
| Department | Department of Physics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The group has done atomic physics calculations, have benchmarked them against experimental data, and used them for the analysis of spectra from stellar coronae. They have also distributed the atomic data within CHIANTI and VAMDC (an EU FP7 network). |
| Collaborator Contribution | UCL provides a world-wide leader in atomic physics who has collaborated with the group on calculating atomic data for a large number of ions important for astrophysics. |
| Impact | In the Jan 2006 - Dec 2010 timeframe the APAP team published 101 refereed papers. They are all highest-quality papers, describing atomic data which are used world-wide by almost all atomic databases and modelling codes, and are directly or indirectly cited by hundreds of refereed papers per year. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | DAMTP open days |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Many members of the public attended the demonstartions of our research activities given by staff members and research students. There was much inrterest and discusion from hundreds of young people during these open days. Participants report great success at communicating leading edhe research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010 |
| Description | Suntrek |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Suntrek is an educational website aimed at 11-16 year olds and their teachers. It describes the astronomy and science of the Sun and its effect on the Earth's environment. The Sun|trek website was launched in July 2007. Since then the number of users has risen to 20,000 per month, which far exceeds our expectations. Sun|trek is now being used by schools throughout the UK, and much further afield. Sun|trek resources have been sent to many schools, including inner city schools (for example in Southall, London and the Ishango Science Club, Birmingham). The Birmingham local news report says: 'The Ishango Science Club after-school Sun-Trek mission held 10 sessions inspired by the Cambridge outreach materials supplied. This organisation specifically targets and inspires bright young ethnic minority children.' Fliers, posters, pens and other Suntrek material have been distributed throughout the UK and internationally (to S. America, rural India and S. Africa). Classroom projects and ideas are provided on the website. Sun|trek is now linked to many other educational websites, eg STEM directories, RAS, STFC, ASE, IoP, NASA, Cambridge University activities, IYA, IHY, Hinode and SoHO websites, Schoolscience and the BBC. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2011 |