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
Mackey A
(2013)
Young accreted globular clusters in the outer halo of M31
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dawson K
(2013)
THE BARYON OSCILLATION SPECTROSCOPIC SURVEY OF SDSS-III
in The Astronomical Journal
Thöne C
(2013)
GRB 100219A with X-shooter - abundances in a galaxy at z =4.7
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Welsh B
(2013)
Ionization within the Local Cavity by Hot White Dwarfs
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Chapman S
(2013)
Dynamics in the satellite system of Triangulum: is And XXII a dwarf satellite of M33?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Preval S
(2013)
A comprehensive near- and far-ultraviolet spectroscopic study of the hot DA white dwarf G191-B2B
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Farihi J
(2013)
Orbital and evolutionary constraints on the planet hosting binary GJ 86 from the Hubble Space Telescope
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
Martin N
(2014)
THE PAndAS FIELD OF STREAMS: STELLAR STRUCTURES IN THE MILKY WAY HALO TOWARD ANDROMEDA AND TRIANGULUM
in The Astrophysical Journal
Stanway E
(2014)
A DETECTION OF MOLECULAR GAS EMISSION IN THE HOST GALAXY OF GRB 080517
in The Astrophysical Journal
Maselli A
(2014)
GRB 130427A: a nearby ordinary monster.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Wiersema K
(2014)
Circular polarization in the optical afterglow of GRB 121024A.
in Nature
Melandri A
(2014)
Diversity of gamma-ray burst energetics vs. supernova homogeneity: SN 2013cq associated with GRB 130427A
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bagdonaite J
(2014)
Limits on a gravitational field dependence of the proton-electron mass ratio from H2 in white dwarf stars.
in Physical review letters
Schulze S
(2014)
GRB 120422A/SN 2012bz: Bridging the gap between low- and high-luminosity gamma-ray bursts
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bartos I
(2014)
Cherenkov Telescope Array is well suited to follow up gravitational-wave transients
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gompertz B
(2014)
Magnetar powered GRBs: explaining the extended emission and X-ray plateau of short GRB light curves
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lyman J
(2014)
The progenitors of calcium-rich transients are not formed in situ*
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
D'Elia V
(2014)
VLT/X-shooter spectroscopy of the GRB 120327A afterglow
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Guidorzi C
(2014)
New constraints on gamma-ray burst jet geometry and relativistic shock physics
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Veljanoski J
(2014)
The outer halo globular cluster system of M31 - II. Kinematics
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Evans P
(2014)
GRB 130925A: an ultralong gamma ray burst with a dust-echo afterglow, and implications for the origin of the ultralong GRBs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Levan A
(2014)
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS OF THE AFTERGLOW, SUPERNOVA, AND HOST GALAXY ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXTREMELY BRIGHT GRB 130427A
in The Astrophysical Journal
Berger E
(2014)
ALMA OBSERVATIONS OF THE HOST GALAXY OF GRB 090423 AT z = 8.23: DEEP LIMITS ON OBSCURED STAR FORMATION 630 MILLION YEARS AFTER THE BIG BANG
in The Astrophysical Journal
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 |