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
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
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
Burhanudin U
(2021)
Light-curve classification with recurrent neural networks for GOTO: dealing with imbalanced data
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rowlinson A
(2014)
Constraining properties of GRB magnetar central engines using the observed plateau luminosity and duration correlation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Farihi J
(2012)
A trio of metal-rich dust and gas discs found orbiting candidate white dwarfs with K -band excess White dwarfs with K-band excess
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Thöne C
(2013)
GRB 100219A with X-shooter - abundances in a galaxy at z =4.7
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Tanvir N
(2012)
The structure of star clusters in the outer halo of M31 Halo star clusters of M31
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Preval S
(2017)
Hot DA white dwarf model atmosphere calculations: including improved Ni PI cross-sections
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Redaelli M
(2011)
The pulsations of PG 1351+489 The pulsations of PG 1351+489
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cano Z
(2015)
GRB 140606B/iPTF14bfu: detection of shock-breakout emission from a cosmological ?-ray burst?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pounds K
(2011)
An extended XMM-Newton observation of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4051 - I. Evidence for a shocked outflow X-ray spectrum of NGC 4051
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Barstow M
(2014)
Evidence for an external origin of heavy elements in hot DA white dwarfs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Panic O
(2020)
TW Hya: an old protoplanetary disc revived by its planet
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Tunnicliffe R
(2014)
On the nature of the 'hostless' short GRBs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Barker M
(2011)
The star formation history in the far outer disc of M33 M33's outer disc star formation history
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Finoguenov A
(2010)
X-ray groups and clusters of galaxies in the Subaru-XMM Deep Field
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Owen R
(2010)
Soft X-ray emission from the inner disc of M33 Soft X-ray emission from inner disc of M33
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
Lamb G
(2021)
GRB jet structure and the jet break
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wiersema K
(2012)
Detailed optical and near-infrared polarimetry, spectroscopy and broad-band photometry of the afterglow of GRB 091018: polarization evolution Polarimetry of the afterglow of GRB 091018
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dainotti M
(2011)
Towards a standard gamma-ray burst: tight correlations between the prompt and the afterglow plateau phase emission Correlations between prompt and afterglow
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
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 |