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
Huxor A
(2014)
The outer halo globular cluster system of M31 - I. The final PAndAS catalogue
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
De Pasquale M
(2015)
The optical rebrightening of GRB100814A: an interplay of forward and reverse shocks?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Starling R
(2011)
Discovery of the nearby long, soft GRB 100316D with an associated supernova Discovery of GRB 100316D
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
Brown G
(2015)
Swift J1112.2-8238: a candidate relativistic tidal disruption flare
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
Fernández J
(2022)
Lateral spreading effects on VLBI radio images of neutron star merger jets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dobbie P
(2012)
Further investigation of white dwarfs in the open clusters NGC 2287 and NGC 3532 Open cluster white dwarfs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bernard E
(2015)
The nature and origin of substructure in the outskirts of M31 - II. Detailed star formation histories?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Beardmore A
(2016)
Lord of the Rings - Return of the King: Swift -XRT observations of dust scattering rings around V404 Cygni
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Stanway E
(2014)
GRB 080517: a local, low-luminosity gamma-ray burst in a dusty galaxy at z = 0.09
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dobbie P
(2012)
High-field magnetic white dwarfs as the progeny of early-type stars?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Evans P
(2016)
Swift follow-up of the Gravitational Wave source GW150914
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
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
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
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
(2010)
The linear rms-flux relation in an ultraluminous X-ray source
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Wiersema K
(2014)
Circular polarization in the optical afterglow of GRB 121024A.
in Nature
Miller JM
(2015)
Flows of X-ray gas reveal the disruption of a star by a massive black hole.
in Nature
LIGO Scientific Collaboration And The Virgo Collaboration
(2017)
A gravitational-wave standard siren measurement of the Hubble constant.
in Nature
Finch N
(2018)
Spectral analysis of the binary nucleus of the planetary nebula Hen 2-428 - first results
in Open Astronomy
Abdallah H
(2021)
Search for dark matter annihilation in the Wolf-Lundmark-Melotte dwarf irregular galaxy with H.E.S.S.
in Physical Review D
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
Berengut JC
(2013)
Limits on the dependence of the fine-structure constant on gravitational potential from white-dwarf spectra.
in Physical review letters
Abdalla H
(2016)
H.E.S.S. Limits on Linelike Dark Matter Signatures in the 100 GeV to 2 TeV Energy Range Close to the Galactic Center.
in Physical review letters
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 |