Rolling Grant Programme in Astrophysics, Planetary Science and Space Instrumentation - 2010-2015
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
We propose a world-class programme of research encompassing astrophysics, planetary science and space instrumentation. In high energy astrophysics, we will investigate a range of extreme phenomena including gamma-ray bursts and accreting black holes, primarily through the use of space observatories such as XMM-Newton and Swift combined with multiwaveband follow-up. Our programme also focuses on the astrophysics of dwarf stars, from hot white dwarfs through to brown dwarfs, utilising observational data in the infrared through to the ultraviolet. We will also continue to search for planets in orbit around nearby stars, exploiting the novel sky survey being conducted by WASP. In planetary science we intend to progress our comparative study of auroral processes on Saturn, Jupiter and Mercury using a combination of remote imaging, in situ spacecraft measurements and modelling. A new strand of research aims at characterising the composition of asteroids and comets and also grains entering the solar system from interstellar space. In space instrumentation, we are engaged in ground-breaking research into X-ray interferometry with the eventual goal of providing, for the first time, an ultra-high resolution imaging capability in high energy astrophysics. We will also investigate the potential of a very low-mass X-ray optic for a diverse range of applications including monitoring the whole sky on a daily basis with an unprecedented sensitivity for transient X-ray events and the imaging of Solar Wind Charge Exchange in the Earth's magnetosphere. Finally we also propose to maintain a very strong commitment to knowledge transfer and to public outreach.
Organisations
Publications
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
Watson M
(2010)
A Tribute to Martin Turner
Yuan F
(2010)
GRB 081008: FROM BURST TO AFTERGLOW AND THE TRANSITION PHASE IN BETWEEN
in The Astrophysical Journal
Dainotti M
(2010)
DISCOVERY OF A TIGHT CORRELATION FOR GAMMA-RAY BURST AFTERGLOWS WITH "CANONICAL" LIGHT CURVES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Tanvir N
(2010)
LATE-TIME OBSERVATIONS OF GRB 080319B: JET BREAK, HOST GALAXY, AND ACCOMPANYING SUPERNOVA
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kann D
(2010)
THE AFTERGLOWS OF SWIFT -ERA GAMMA-RAY BURSTS. I. COMPARING PRE- SWIFT AND SWIFT -ERA LONG/SOFT (TYPE II) GRB OPTICAL AFTERGLOWS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Capelli R
(2010)
Discovery of X-ray flaring activity in the Arches cluster
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Heil L
(2010)
The linear rms-flux relation in an ultraluminous X-ray source
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Huxor A
(2011)
Exploring the properties of the M31 halo globular cluster system The M31 halo globular cluster system
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Guidorzi C
(2011)
A faint optical flash in dust-obscured GRB 080603A: implications for GRB prompt emission mechanisms Prompt and afterglow emission of GRB 080603A
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cucchiara A
(2011)
A PHOTOMETRIC REDSHIFT OF z ~ 9.4 FOR GRB 090429B
in The Astrophysical Journal
Talboys D
(2011)
Statistical characteristics of field-aligned currents in Saturn's nightside magnetosphere CURRENTS IN SATURN'S MAGNETOSPHERE
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Zafar T
(2011)
EXPLORING DUST EXTINCTION AT THE EDGE OF REIONIZATION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Starling R
(2011)
Swift follow-up of unidentified X-ray sources in the XMM-Newton Slew Survey Swift follow-up of XMM Slew Survey sources
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sparre M
(2011)
SPECTROSCOPIC EVIDENCE FOR SN 2010ma ASSOCIATED WITH GRB 101219B
in The Astrophysical Journal
Steele P
(2011)
White dwarfs in the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey Large Area Survey: the substellar companion fraction White dwarfs in UKIDSS LAS DR8
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Goulding A
(2011)
Searching for Compton-thick active galactic nuclei at z~ 0.1 Searching for Compton-thick AGNs at z~ 0.1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dhillon V
(2011)
The first observation of optical pulsations from a soft gamma repeater: SGR 0501+4516
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Marshall F
(2011)
THE LATE PEAKING AFTERGLOW OF GRB 100418A
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kellett S
(2011)
Saturn's ring current: Local time dependence and temporal variability SATURN'S RING CURRENT
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Bloom JS
(2011)
A possible relativistic jetted outburst from a massive black hole fed by a tidally disrupted star.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
González-Martín O
(2011)
Suzaku observation of the LINER NGC 4102
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Actis M
(2011)
Design concepts for the Cherenkov Telescope Array CTA: an advanced facility for ground-based high-energy gamma-ray astronomy
in Experimental Astronomy
Vaughan S
(2011)
The rapid X-ray variability of NGC 4051 The rapid X-ray variability of NGC 4051
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Nayakshin S
(2011)
The tidal downsizing hypothesis for planet formation and the composition of Solar system comets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Capelli R
(2011)
Fe K a line emission from the Arches cluster region - evidence for ongoing particle bombardment?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Chen H
(2011)
ERRATUM: "A MATURE DUSTY STAR-FORMING GALAXY HOSTING GRB 080607 AT z = 3.036" (2010, ApJ, 723, L218)
in The Astrophysical Journal
Collins M
(2011)
The kinematic identification of a thick stellar disc in M31?† The thick disc in M31
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dainotti M
(2011)
STUDY OF POSSIBLE SYSTEMATICS IN THE L * X - T * a CORRELATION OF GAMMA-RAY BURSTS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Badman S
(2011)
Location of Saturn's northern infrared aurora determined from Cassini VIMS images SATURN'S NORTHERN INFRARED AURORA
in Geophysical Research Letters
Bridges J
(2011)
Planetary Protection and Mars Sample Return
in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering
Church R
(2011)
Implications for the origin of short gamma-ray bursts from their observed positions around their host galaxies Spatial offsets of short-duration GRBs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Nandra K
(2011)
GRAVITAS: general relativistic astrophysics via timing and spectroscopy
in Experimental Astronomy
Faedi F
(2011)
Detection limits for close eclipsing and transiting substellar and planetary companions to white dwarfs in the WASP survey Sub-stellar and planetary companions to WDs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Den Herder J
(2011)
ORIGIN: metal creation and evolution from the cosmic dawn
in Experimental Astronomy
Maxted P
(2011)
Discovery of a stripped red giant core in a bright eclipsing binary system? J0247-25
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
O'Brien P
(2011)
ASTROSAT
in Advances in Space Research
Warwick R
(2011)
The Galactic plane at faint X-ray fluxes - I. Properties and characteristics of the X-ray source population The Galactic plane at faint X-ray fluxes
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Heil L
(2011)
Quasi-periodic oscillations in XTE J1550-564: the rms-flux relation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Pineau F
(2011)
Cross-correlation of the 2XMMi catalogue with Data Release 7 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Farihi J
(2011)
Evolutionary constraints on the planet-hosting subgiant e Reticulum from its white dwarf companion Constraints on the planet-host e Reticulum
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cano Z
(2011)
A tale of two GRB-SNe at a common redshift of z=0.54 A tale of two GRB-SNe
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Thöne C
(2011)
Variable Lya sheds light on the environment surrounding GRB 090426 Variable Lya in GRB 090426
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Greiner J
(2011)
GRIPS - Gamma-Ray Imaging, Polarimetry and Spectroscopy
in Experimental Astronomy
De Cia A
(2011)
GRB 070125 and the environments of spectral-line poor afterglow absorbers? GRB 070125 and the spectral-line poor absorbers
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Virgili F
(2011)
ARE ALL SHORT-HARD GAMMA-RAY BURSTS PRODUCED FROM MERGERS OF COMPACT STELLAR OBJECTS?
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pounds K
(2011)
An extended XMM-Newton observation of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4051 - II. Soft X-ray emission from a limb-brightened shell of post-shock gas X-ray spectrum of NGC 4051
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lallement R
(2011)
High ions towards white dwarfs: circumstellar line shifts and stellar temperature
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Perley D
(2011)
MONSTER IN THE DARK: THE ULTRALUMINOUS GRB 080607 AND ITS DUSTY ENVIRONMENT
in The Astronomical Journal
Casewell S
(2011)
Methane band and Spitzer mid-IR imaging of L and T dwarf candidates in the Pleiades Methane and Spitzer imaging of the Pleiades
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Description | We have undertaken an ambitious set of resewaerch projects in astrophysics and space technology. These have led to innovative X-ray optics, including interferometry, and a numnber of astrophysics and planetary science outcomes. These include studies of the most distant objects in the Universe, the characterisation of asteroid samples, the discovery of exoplanets, the characterisation of compact objects (neutron stars, black holes and white dwarfs) and the statistical properties of active galactic nuclei. |
Exploitation Route | The astrophsyical results will inform future studies. The hardware/technology findings can be used in future space missions. |
Sectors | Education |
Description | We have used our research to advance knowledge of astrophysics and space science which has been communicated to the public via outreach activties, including presentations at the National Space Centre, at various schools and through public outreach events including Stargazing live. Technology work has been carried out on X-ray optics which has led to designs for international space missions utlising low-cost and light-weight optical modules. |
First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Societal |
Title | qsoft - ray tracing and simulation software for X-ray optics and X-ray telescopes |
Description | qsoft is a comprehensive suite of routines for the simulation of X-ray optics and X-ray telescopes. The routines can be accessed using the scripting languages R and/or Python. The routines are written in Fortran 77 and C and the source is self contained and requires no external packages or libraries. The source is available from GitHub. A fortran compiler (gfortran preferred) and R and/or Python with module f2py are required to build the libraries. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | This software has been used for the design and analysis of a number of existing X-ray telescopes: Rosat WFC, XMM-Newton, Swift, SVOM MXT. It is currently in use for the design of up coming instruments: ESA Theseus, NASA TAO, Chinese Einstein Probe. |
URL | https://github.com/dickwillingale |
Description | Numerous public talks and schools visits |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Too numerous to list Inspiration of young and old audiences |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2011,2012,2013 |
Description | UCAS recruitment day University of Leicester |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | The aim is to give prospective undergraduate students a selection of the types of subjects they will study in the University of Leicester College of Science. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017 |
Description | Various school visits, astronomical society lectures |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Many presentations, 100s of students, excellent questions and discussion. Audience figures are totals for activities during each year. Improvements in interest in applying for science degrees |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018 |