High Energy Astrophysics at Southampton
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Sch of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
On the stellar scale we are interested in the significance of different environments on the evolution of high mass X-ray binary (HMXB) populations, in particular between the Milky Way and the SMC, where differing star formation rates and metallicities could be crucial. What are the relative importances of local and interstellar obscuration in what we see? Here the upcoming 2Msec INTEGRAL Key Programme observation of the SMC, almost unaffected by obscuration, will be of great value. Globular clusters are outstanding laboratories for studying stellar dynamics and stellar evolution, especially for understanding the most exotic stellar populations. We are drawing together observations of large samples of globular clusters to understand which cluster properties are most important for the production of these exotic stars, and comparing with low stellar density dwarf spheroidal galaxies to isolate the stellar evolution from stellar dynamics. The Netherlands-based low frequency radio array, LOFAR, is about to open a new window on the universe providing the first radio `all sky monitor'. We will study coherent radio bursts, perhaps associated with merging neutron stars, detectable at enormous distances (to z=7), providing a unique probe of the intergalactic medium and possibly even testing theories of gravity and cosmological distance scales via identification of LIGO inspiral events We will continue our research into the coupling between accretion and outflow (jets) in X-ray binaries, and how it relates to parallel processes in AGN (where scaling laws with black hole mass are established), accreting neutron stars and white dwarfs. We have amassed the first comprehensive database of black hole spectral states and will extend this analysis to include X-ray timing and radio results. Thus we will produce the most comprehensive analysis to date of the relation between black hole accretion flows and the formation and power of relativistic jets. The results can be applied to AGN feedback in galaxies and clusters. We will greatly improve our knowledge of the scaling relationship between characteristic X-ray timescale, mass and accretion rate in Seyfert galaxies and Galactic binaries, thus testing physical models for this important universal relationship. We will determine whether the relationship applies in jet dominated ``blazars'', implying a universal origin for variability. We are building a model, based on propagating fluctuations, to provide physical understanding of all spectral-timing relationships to derive physical parameters, eg disc emissivity profile. This model, with additional X-ray reprocessing, should also explain X-ray/optical correlations in AGN so we will test it against our X-ray/optical monitoring. To provide a census of the nearby universe on which models of the more distant universe can be built, we are heavily involved in eMERLIN legacy surveys of nearby galaxy samples It is now widely accepted that some process must reheat the gas in galaxy clusters or large amounts of cool gas, which are not seen, would be found in the cores of clusters of galaxies. But what is the heating mechanism? In our most theoretical project we will investigate, via MHD simulations, whether the dissipation of turbulent energy, driven by merger events, galaxy motions and AGN outflows, may be responsible. On the largest scales, both AGN and starforming galaxies (SFGs) contribute to the faint radio source population, but what is the mix? By combining radio morphology with a variety of spectral energy diagnostics we can distinguish AGN from SFGs. Hence, using radio luminosity as a starformation rate (SFR) indicator, we can determine the evolution of the cosmic SFR in an absorption-independent manner. We will push this technique to much higher redshifts, as major contributors to eMERLIN deep field legacy surveys, and also probe the relationship between SFGs and AGN.
Organisations
Publications
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2014)
General relativistic modelling of the negative reverberation X-ray time delays in AGN?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Seymour N
(2009)
Investigating the far-IR/radio correlation of star-forming Galaxies to z = 3
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hardcastle M
(2009)
The active nuclei of z < 1.0 3CRR radio sources
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Konar C
(2009)
The dynamics of the giant radio galaxy 3C???457
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2012)
The 'harder when brighter' X-ray behaviour of the low-luminosity active galactic nucleus NGC 7213 NGC 7213: 'harder when brighter' X-ray behaviour
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wang Y
(2011)
The entrainment-limited evolution of FR II sources: maximum sizes and a possible connection to FR Is The entrainment-limited evolution of FR IIs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Panessa F
(2011)
Narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies at hard X-rays? INTEGRAL narrow-line Seyfert 1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Inam S
(2009)
RXTE -PCA observations of XMMU J054134.7-682550
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hynes R
(2009)
The quiescent spectral energy distribution of V404 Cyg
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hakala P
(2011)
Fast optical and X-ray variability in the UCXB 4U0614+09? Variability in the UCXB 4U0614+09
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Shelton D
(2011)
The dynamics and environmental impact of 3C 452 The dynamics & environmental impact of 3C 452
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Moin A
(2011)
e-VLBI observations of Circinus X-1: monitoring of the quiescent and flaring radio emission on au scales e-VLBI observations of Circinus X-1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cottis C
(2010)
Searching for the signature of radiative line driving: on the absence of Lya-N v line-locking features in a large sample of BALQSOs Radiative line driving in BALQSOs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dunn R
(2011)
A global study of the behaviour of black hole X-ray binary discs X-ray binary discs: a gloabal study
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kotze M
(2012)
Characterizing X-ray binary long-term variability Long-term variability in X-ray binaries
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
Townsend L
(2010)
Be/X-ray binary SXP6.85 undergoes large Type II outburst in the Small Magellanic Cloud
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dunn R
(2010)
A global spectral study of black hole X-ray binaries
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2013)
X-ray spectral analysis of the low-luminosity active galactic nucleus NGC 7213 using long XMM-Newton observations?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Maiorano E
(2011)
Searching for active galactic nuclei among unidentified INTEGRAL sources Searching for AGNs among INTEGRAL sources
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Shih I
(2011)
Correlated optical/X-ray long-term variability in LMXB 4U 1636-536 Long term variability in LMXB 4U 1636-536
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
De Rosa A
(2012)
Broad-band study of hard X-ray-selected absorbed active galactic nuclei The X-ray view of type 2 AGN
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Shahbaz T
(2010)
Observations of the quiescent X-ray transients GRS 1124-684 (=GU Mus) and Cen X-4 (=V822 Cen) taken with ULTRACAM on the VLT
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Leigh N
(2011)
An analytic model for blue straggler formation in globular clusters Blue straggler formation in globular clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Croston J
(2009)
High-energy particle acceleration at the radio-lobe shock of Centaurus A
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Connolly S
(2014)
Long-term wind-driven X-ray spectral variability of NGC 1365 with Swift
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sguera V
(2011)
IGR J17354-3255 as a candidate intermediate supergiant fast X-ray transient possibly associated with the transient MeV AGL J1734-3310 IGR J17354-3255 as candidate SFXT
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Coriat M
(2011)
Radiatively efficient accreting black holes in the hard state: the case study of H1743-322 H1743-322: radio/X-ray correlation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Soleri P
(2010)
Investigating the disc-jet coupling in accreting compact objects using the black hole candidate Swift J1753.5-0127 Disc-jet coupling in black hole candidates
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Arévalo P
(2009)
Correlation and time delays of the X-ray and optical emission of the Seyfert Galaxy NGC 3783
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Calvelo D
(2012)
Radio observations of Circinus X-1 over a complete orbit at an historically faint epoch Observations of CIR X-1 over a complete orbit
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Landi R
(2010)
Swift/XRT observations of unidentified INTEGRAL/IBIS sources Swift/XRT observations of unidentified INTEGRAL/IBIS sources
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2016)
A search for X-ray reprocessing echoes in the power spectral density functions of AGN
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Peacock M
(2011)
The ultraviolet colour of globular clusters in M31: a core density effect? The UV colour of globular clusters in M31
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Soleri P
(2009)
A parsec scale X-ray extended structure from the X-ray binary Circinus X-1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Joseph T
(2011)
The unusual radio transient in M82: an SS 433 analogue? The M82 radio transient: an SS 433 analogue?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Casella P
(2010)
Fast infrared variability from a relativistic jet in GX 339-4
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Yang J
(2010)
A decelerating jet observed by the EVN and VLBA in the X-ray transient XTE J1752-223 Decelerating jet in XTE J1752-223
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Calvelo D
(2012)
Millimetre observations of a sub-arcsecond jet from Circinus X-1 Millimetre observations of Circinus X-1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Leigh N
(2009)
Stellar populations in globular cluster cores: evidence for a peculiar trend among red giant branch stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Emmanoulopoulos D
(2011)
Negative X-ray reverberation time delays from MCG-6-30-15 and Mrk 766? NXTL from MCG-6-30-15 and Mrk 766
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Uthas H
(2011)
The cataclysmic variable SDSS J1507+52: an eclipsing period bouncer in the Galactic halo J1507: an eclipsing CV in the Galactic halo
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Miller-Jones J
(2012)
The first resolved imaging of milliarcsecond-scale jets in Circinus X-1 Resolved au-scale radio jets in Circinus X-1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Bassani L
(2009)
The nature of the ASCA / INTEGRAL source AX J183039-1002: a new Compton-thick AGN?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Clark D
(2010)
The orbital period in the supergiant fast X-ray transient IGR J16465-4507 IGR J16465-4507
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Clark D
(2009)
Discovery of the orbital period in the supergiant fast X-ray transient IGR J17544-2619
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Körding E
(2011)
Detection of radio emission from a nova-like cataclysmic variable: evidence of jets? Radio detection of a nova-like star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Rodríguez-Gil P
(2010)
The orbital period of V458 Vulpeculae, a post-double common-envelope nova The 98.10-min orbital period of nova V458 Vul
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Hota A
(2011)
Discovery of a spiral-host episodic radio galaxy A spiral-host episodic radio galaxy
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Kotze M
(2010)
Very long-term X-ray variations in LMXBs: solar cycle-like variations in the donor? Very long-term X-ray variations in LMXBs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Description | Many details regarding the accretion of material onto compact objects such as black holes, and the resulting emission, particularly with regard to the variability properties and to jets |
Exploitation Route | We work on some of the major questions in high energy astrophysics and our work on timing properties and scaling relationships between different mass and accretion rates will certainly form the basis of future examinations of scaling relationships, ie are black holes the same, apart from scale? |
Sectors | Creative Economy,Education |
Description | Other researchers have applied the techniques developed during the course of this grant to different types of astrophysical objects. We have also used them in the context of undergraduate projects on the time series analysis of stock market data, resulting the in the said undergraduates getting better paid jobs than their lecturers. |
First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
Sector | Creative Economy,Education,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy |
Impact Types | Cultural |