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
Hartoog O
(2013)
The host-galaxy response to the afterglow of GRB 100901A
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hartoog O
(2015)
VLT/X-Shooter spectroscopy of the afterglow of the Swift GRB 130606A Chemical abundances and reionisation at z ~ 6
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Heard V
(2013)
XMM-Newton observations of the Galactic Centre Region - I. The distribution of low-luminosity X-ray sources
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Heard V
(2013)
XMM-Newton observations of the Galactic Centre Region - II. The soft-thermal emission
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
Heil L
(2012)
The ubiquity of the rms-flux relation in black hole X-ray binaries The rms-flux relation in BHBs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Heil L
(2010)
The linear rms-flux relation in an ultraluminous X-ray source
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Hicks L
(2017)
Magnetite in Comet Wild 2: Evidence for parent body aqueous alteration
in Meteoritics & Planetary Science
Hiroi K
(2012)
COMOVING SPACE DENSITY AND OBSCURED FRACTION OF HIGH-REDSHIFT ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI IN THE SUBARU/ XMM-NEWTON DEEP SURVEY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hjorth J
(2012)
THE OPTICALLY UNBIASED GAMMA-RAY BURST HOST (TOUGH) SURVEY. I. SURVEY DESIGN AND CATALOGS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Holberg J
(2012)
OBSERVATIONAL CONSTRAINTS ON THE DEGENERATE MASS-RADIUS RELATION
in The Astronomical Journal
Holberg J
(2014)
Hubble Space Telescope imaging and spectroscopy of the sirius-like triple star system HD 217411
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hu J
(2020)
Measuring the fine structure constant on a white dwarf surface; a detailed analysis of Fe V absorption in G191-B2B
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hu J.
(2018)
Constraining the magnetic field on white dwarf surfaces; Zeeman effects and fine structure constant variation
in arXiv e-prints
Humphries J
(2021)
Searching for wide-orbit gravitational instability protoplanets with ALMA in the dust continuum
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hurley K
(2010)
A new analysis of the short-duration, hard-spectrum GRB 051103, a possible extragalactic soft gamma repeater giant flare
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Huxor A
(2013)
Three newly discovered globular clusters in NGC 6822
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Huxor A
(2014)
The outer halo globular cluster system of M31 - I. The final PAndAS catalogue
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jackson F
(2012)
On the nature of high X-ray luminosities in Sloan Digital Sky Survey galaxies High X-ray luminosities in SDSS galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jackson F
(2010)
Revealing X-ray luminous AGN in apparent starburst galaxies
Jakobsson P
(2012)
THE OPTICALLY UNBIASED GRB HOST (TOUGH) SURVEY. III. REDSHIFT DISTRIBUTION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Japelj J
(2015)
Spectrophotometric analysis of gamma-ray burst afterglow extinction curves with X-Shooter
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Johnson B
(2012)
A SELF-CONSISTENT MODEL OF THE CIRCUMSTELLAR DEBRIS CREATED BY A GIANT HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT IN THE HD 172555 SYSTEM
in The Astrophysical Journal
Jones C
(2016)
DIVISION D COMMISSION 44: SPACE AND HIGH-ENERGY ASTROPHYSICS
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
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 |