Astrophysics Research at Liverpool John Moores University
Lead Research Organisation:
Liverpool John Moores University
Department Name: Astrophysics Research Institute
Abstract
We propose to continue our wide-ranging programme of research tackling cutting-edge astrophysical problems. We address two main topics: Explosive Transients (Theme A) and: Galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei (Theme B). These Themes cover several of the scientific priorities in STFC's strategic plan under their theme Universal Challenges. In Theme A we will study the physics of Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) - the most powerful explosions in the Universe - and use them as environmental probes. Combining cutting-edge theoretical predictions with novel observational experiments on the world's largest robotic telescopes, we will probe regions of extreme physics to determine the fundamental role of magnetic fields. We will use GRBs to probe the environment of massive stars locally and in the early Universe. We will search for the first electromagnetic counterparts to neutrino bursts predicted to be produced by GRBs, detection of which will revolutionise understanding of relativistic explosions. In a second part of Theme A we will investigate the fundamental properties of both Galactic and extragalactic Recurrent Novae, building on our considerable expertise in this area, focussing on the possibility that these objects are the progenitors of the important Type Ia Supernovae, which have become known as one of the primary probes of the scale and nature of the Universe. Theme B explores how the galaxies around us are formed, and how they then evolve over cosmic time. We will investigate what the properties are of the stellar populations which form in galaxies, when in the history of the galaxies the stars were formed, and how this depends upon the surroundings of the galaxies (e.g. whether they are in clusters or not, whether or not they contain the accreting Supermassive Black Holes which power Active Galactic Nuclei). We will use information from the most powerful ground based telescopes, and from optical, infrared and X-ray telescopes in space, combined with theoretical modeling, in an approach known as 'Galactic Archaeology' to uncover information on how the galaxies were assembled. All of our research uses the most advanced ground-based telescopes (such as our own Liverpool Telescope), satellites and data analysis techniques to carry out observations from gamma rays to radio wavelengths and ARI staff are lead many of the new generation surveys with these telescopes. The projects we propose in both themes are technically demanding and require computer software support to aid the delivery of the science. The structure and organisation of the ARI is designed to deliver internationally excellent research. The ARI is also a major international player in developing and exploiting outreach activities to engage the wider population in our science through the National Schools Observatory and the local astronomy visitor centre, Spaceport.
Publications
Hill D
(2010)
Galaxy and Mass Assembly: FUV, NUV, ugrizYJHK Petrosian, Kron and Sérsic photometry GAMA: the photometric pipeline
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hilton M
(2012)
The XMM Cluster Survey: evidence for energy injection at high redshift from evolution of the X-ray luminosity-temperature relation Evolution of the L X -T relation from XCS-DR1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hilton M
(2010)
THE XMM CLUSTER SURVEY: ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI AND STARBURST GALAXIES IN XMMXCS J2215.9-1738 AT z = 1.46
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hoare M
(2012)
The Coordinated Radio and Infrared Survey for High-Mass Star Formation (The CORNISH Survey). I. Survey Design
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Holoien T
(2017)
The ASAS-SN bright supernova catalogue - I. 2013-2014
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Holoien T
(2017)
The ASAS-SN bright supernova catalogue - III. 2016
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Holoien T
(2017)
The ASAS-SN Bright Supernova Catalog - II. 2015
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Holoien T. W. -S.
(2016)
Discovery and Observations of the Unusually Luminous Type-Defying II-P/II-L Supernova ASASSN-13co
in ACTA ASTRONOMICA
Hopkins A
(2013)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): spectroscopic analysis
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hounsell R
(2010)
EXQUISITE NOVA LIGHT CURVES FROM THE SOLAR MASS EJECTION IMAGER (SMEI)
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hounsell R
(2011)
A very luminous, highly extinguished, very fast nova - V1721 Aquilae
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hoyos C
(2011)
The HST/ACS Coma Cluster Survey - III. Structural parameters of galaxies using single Sérsic fits? Structural parameters of galaxies in Coma
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
Hwang K
(2010)
OGLE-2005-BLG-153: MICROLENSING DISCOVERY AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A VERY LOW MASS BINARY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Häußler B
(2013)
MegaMorph - multiwavelength measurement of galaxy structure: complete Sérsic profile information from modern surveys
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ilee J
(2013)
CO bandhead emission of massive young stellar objects: determining disc properties?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ivory C
(2011)
Spectroscopic confirmation of Ha-selected satellite galaxies Spectroscopy of satellite galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
James P
(2011)
On the scarcity of Magellanic Cloud like satellites Magellanic satellite galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jarvis M
(2010)
Herschel-ATLAS: the far-infrared-radio correlation at z < 0.5? The far-infrared-radio correlation at z < 0.5
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jurdana-Šepic R
(2011)
Historical light curve and search for previous outbursts of Nova KT Eridani (2009)
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Karczmarek P
(2017)
The Araucaria Project: The Distance to the Fornax Dwarf Galaxy from Near-infrared Photometry of RR Lyrae Stars *
in The Astronomical Journal
Kawamura S
(2008)
The Japanese space gravitational wave antenna - DECIGO
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Kawamura S
(2011)
The Japanese space gravitational wave antenna: DECIGO
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Kelvin L
(2018)
Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): variation in galaxy structure across the green valley
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kelvin L
(2012)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): Structural Investigation of Galaxies via Model Analysis GAMA: sigma
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kervella P
(2012)
The long-period Galactic Cepheid RS Puppis II. 3D structure and mass of the nebula from VLT/FORS polarimetry
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Khosroshahi H
(2017)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): A "No Smoking" Zone for Giant Elliptical Galaxies?
in The Astrophysical Journal
KOBAYASHI S
(2012)
POLARIZATION IN VERY EARLY GAMMA-RAY BURST AFTERGLOW
in International Journal of Modern Physics: Conference Series
Kobayashi S
(2012)
EJECTION AND CAPTURE DYNAMICS IN RESTRICTED THREE-BODY ENCOUNTERS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kourkchi E
(2012)
Dwarf galaxies in the Coma cluster - I. Velocity dispersion measurements?† Coma dwarf galaxies - I. Velocity dispersions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kourkchi E
(2012)
Dwarf galaxies in the Coma cluster - II. Spectroscopic and photometric fundamental planes?† Coma dwarf galaxies - II. Fundamental Plane
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Krauss M
(2011)
EXPANDED VERY LARGE ARRAY NOVA PROJECT OBSERVATIONS OF THE CLASSICAL NOVA V1723 AQUILAE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Krieger N
(2017)
The Survey of Water and Ammonia in the Galactic Center (SWAG): Molecular Cloud Evolution in the Central Molecular Zone
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kriwattanawong W
(2011)
The galaxy population of Abell 1367: photometric and spectroscopic data
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kuncarayakti H
(2018)
SN 2017dio: A Type-Ic Supernova Exploding in a Hydrogen-rich Circumstellar Medium
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kunder A
(2013)
THE HORIZONTAL BRANCH OF NGC 1851: CONSTRAINTS FROM ITS RR LYRAE VARIABLES
in The Astronomical Journal
Lam M
(2018)
A bottom-up and top-down approach to cloud detection
Lepson J
(2017)
Measurement of L-shell transitions in M-shell ions in the laboratory and identification in stellar coronae
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Li I
(2011)
Dependence of star formation activity on stellar mass and environment from the Redshift One LDSS-3 Emission line Survey SFR at z~ 1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lin Y
(2017)
Erratum: "Cloud Structure of Three Galactic Infrared Dark Star-forming Regions from Combining Ground and Space-based Bolometric Observations" (2017, ApJ, 840, 22)
in The Astrophysical Journal
Lin Y
(2017)
Cloud Structure of Three Galactic Infrared Dark Star-forming Regions from Combining Ground- and Space-based Bolometric Observations
in The Astrophysical Journal
Lindegren L
(2018)
Gaia Data Release 2 The astrometric solution
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Lisenfeld U.
(2008)
Molecular gas and dust in Arp 94: The formation of a recycled galaxy in an interacting system
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Littlejohns O
(2012)
The origin of the early-time optical emission of Swift GRB 080310? The early-time emission of GRB 080310
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lloyd-Davies E
(2010)
The XMM Cluster Survey: X-ray analysis methodology
Lloyd-Davies E
(2011)
The XMM Cluster Survey: X-ray analysis methodology XCS: x-ray analysis methodology
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Longmore S
(2017)
Adapting astronomical source detection software to help detect animals in thermal images obtained by unmanned aerial systems
in International Journal of Remote Sensing
Longmore S
(2017)
H2O Southern Galactic Plane Survey (HOPS): Paper III - properties of dense molecular gas across the inner Milky Way
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Loveday J
(2012)
Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): ugriz galaxy luminosity functions GAMA luminosity functions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Description | Discoveries into the evolution of galaxies and stars, their origin and astrophysical processes. |
Exploitation Route | Continue to research into unsolved problems in astrophysics. |
Sectors | Education |
Description | Many outreach activities across all sectors, e.g. Schools, public, policy makers, flower shows |
First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
Description | NSO Presentation in House of Commons |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Description | Consolidated Renewal |
Amount | £1,200,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/R000484/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2018 |
End | 03/2021 |
Description | EU Framework Programme |
Amount | £71,038 (GBP) |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 06/2012 |
End | 06/2015 |
Description | EU Framework Programme |
Amount | £29,175 (GBP) |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 06/2011 |
End | 06/2013 |
Description | STFC Large Awards |
Amount | £15,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2011 |
End | 06/2013 |
Description | STFC SiS Fellowships |
Amount | £74,252 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2011 |
End | 10/2013 |
Description | University Widening Access |
Amount | £1,283,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Liverpool John Moores University |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2011 |
End | 09/2017 |
Description | ARI Engagement |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The ARI Outreach team delivers 50 events per year in addition to School based activities. These include, astronomy and science societies and associations, public open events, theatre, street theatre etc..art exhibitions, church societies, cubs, scouts, brownies etc.. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016 |
Description | Input to Parliamentary Inquiry |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Provision of evidence and acting as expert witness for House of Commons S&T Committee Inquiry into astronomy and particle physics. Recommendations in final report supporting the Liverpool Telescope and National Schools' Observatory. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | NSO-Garden Chelsea |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | In 2015 the NSO exhibited a garden called Dark Matter; at the Chelsea Flower Show winning a Gold medal and Best in Class" (Fresh Gardens). The aggregate audience was estimated at 211 million. The garden has an extensive legacy value at the STFC Daresbury Laboratory and is highlighted on the front cover of the 2015 STFC Impact Report. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.stfc.ac.uk/files/impact-report-2015/ |
Description | National Schools Observatory |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Enhanced interest and uptake of STEM subjects Each year the NSO delivers just over 40 different events or visits to or involving schools. This reaches a total of about 4,500 pupils per year in about 80 different schools. Increasing schools registration on NSO - more than 4000 currently |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | Pre-2006,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016 |
URL | http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk/ |
Description | National Schools' Observatory in Primary Schools |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 1000 Primary school teachers and their pupils engaged with astronomical research using the Liverpool Telescope and resources of the NSO website. Over all NSO activity (Primary, Secondary, FE) over the period: 30,000 observing requests were delivered and just under 3,000,000 educational webpages viewed. This is in addition to the engagement activity entered into eVal for the previous period. www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013 |
URL | http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk |
Description | Press coverage relating to the Liverpool Telescope |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Paper Presentation |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | 12+ significant stories covered by the media through press releases related to the Liverpool Telescope. This is in addition to the outputs reported for the previous period through eVal. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013 |
Description | School and Public Talks |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 50+ public talks and 200+ schools talks based around science from the Liverpool Telescope. This is in addition to data entered through eVal for the previous period. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013 |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/outreach |
Description | TV and radio coverage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Contributions to TV and radio broadcasts featuring LIverpool Telescope science. Total 20+ in this reporting period. This is in addition to the outputs reported for the previous period through eVal. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013 |
URL | http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk |