Astrophysics at Oxford: 2010-2015
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
Astrophysicists at Oxford are trying to determine six basic things about the Universe. (1) What is it made of? The Universe appears to be at the beginning of a period of accelerated expansion driven by some mysterious stuff known as 'dark energy'. Einstein had a theory for what this stuff is: he called it the Cosmological Constant. We will be testing his theory by measuring the apparent brightnesses of distant exploding stars (supernovae), by measuring the distortions of distant galaxies as light is bent by the gravity of more nearby galaxies, and by measuring the precise positions of about one million galaxies. (2) What is the history of Hydrogen in the Universe? Hydrogen - the most abundant element in the Universe - is the most important building material for making stars. Atoms of Hydrogen combine into molecules within dense clouds, and these clouds provide the nursery for the birth of new stars. We will be using giant new telescopes operating at millimetre and radio wavelengths to observe, and hence understand, this process throughout most of the history of the Universe. (3) What can we learn about how galaxies formed from galaxies observed at current times? We are involved in large observational programmes that can be viewed as 'archaeology' of nearby galaxies looking for clues of important events in their history, for example by finding fast-moving gas orbiting a dormant supermassive black hole. We also study the relation between stellar populations and dark matter by studying the orbits of stars within and beyond the optical light in a galaxy. (4) What can we learn about how galaxies formed from distant galaxies observed at earlier times? Because of the finite speed of light, distant galaxies are seen when the Universe, and the galaxies within it, were young, and often these galaxies are so dusty that they are only effectively studied using infrared and radio observations. We map out the large-scale distribution of galaxies in the distant Universe using a combination of wide-field imaging (taking pictures) and spectroscopy (spreading light out into its constituent colours). We study these systems as they form and evolve, sometimes in dramatic bursts of star formation associated with supermassive black holes. (5) When did the first galaxies form? The Hydrogen in the Universe formed atoms about 300,000 years after the Big Bang, but was largely re-ionized (converted back to protons and electrons) during the so-called Epoch of Reionization. We use giant ground-based telescopes and satellites (e.g. the Hubble Space Telescope) to study these first galaxies and determine whether it was radiation associated with the birth of these galaxies, or stars within them, that was responsible for the re-ionization. (6) How do black holes influence star and galaxy formation? Black holes grow by 'gobbling up' gas and stars in a process called accretion. This process seems commonly to yield outflows in the form of winds and jets, the latter capable of reaching speeds very close to the speed of light. We study these systems in our own galaxy and in distant galaxies to determine the physics of such 'feedback mechanisms' (growth of the black hole is halted, albeit temporarily, by outflows driven by processes associated with the black hole). Our aim is to understand the influence of (compact) black holes on the formation of stars, galaxies and clusters of galaxies on much large physical scales.
Organisations
- University of Oxford (Lead Research Organisation)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- Leiden University (Collaboration)
- California Institute of Technology (Collaboration)
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) (Collaboration)
- Paris Institute of Astrophysics (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Collaboration)
Publications
Bianco F
(2011)
CONSTRAINING TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE PROGENITORS FROM THREE YEARS OF SUPERNOVA LEGACY SURVEY DATA
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hickey S
(2010)
Constraints on star-forming galaxies at z = 6.5 from HAWK-I Y -band imaging of GOODS-South
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Chisari N
(2015)
Contamination of early-type galaxy alignments to galaxy lensing-CMB lensing cross-correlation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lobban A
(2011)
Contemporaneous Chandra HETG and Suzaku X-ray observations of NGC 4051 A study of NGC 4051 with Chandra and Suzaku
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Arcavi I
(2010)
CORE-COLLAPSE SUPERNOVAE FROM THE PALOMAR TRANSIENT FACTORY: INDICATIONS FOR A DIFFERENT POPULATION IN DWARF GALAXIES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Vangioni E
(2011)
Cosmic chemical evolution with an early population of intermediate-mass stars Cosmic chemical evolution
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Turner T
(2010)
COSMIC-RAY SPALLATION IN RADIO-QUIET ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI: A CASE STUDY OF NGC 4051
in The Astrophysical Journal
Thater S
(2022)
Cross-checking SMBH mass estimates in NGC 6958 - I. Stellar dynamics from adaptive optics-assisted MUSE observations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hojjati A
(2017)
Cross-correlating Planck tSZ with RCSLenS weak lensing: implications for cosmology and AGN feedback
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
CTA Consortium The
(2013)
CTA contributions to the 33rd International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2013)
in arXiv e-prints
Viola M
(2015)
Dark matter halo properties of GAMA galaxy groups from 100 square degrees of KiDS weak lensing data
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pérez-García M
(2012)
Dark matter seeding and the kinematics and rotation of neutron stars
in Physics Letters B
Perez-Garcia MA
(2010)
Dark matter, neutron stars, and strange quark matter.
in Physical review letters
Houghton R
(2012)
Data and two-dimensional scaling relations for galaxies in Abell 1689: a hint of size evolution at z~ 0.2 2D scaling relations for galaxies in A1689
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Onodera M
(2012)
DEEP NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY OF PASSIVELY EVOLVING GALAXIES AT z ? 1.4
in The Astrophysical Journal
Actis M
(2011)
Design concepts for the Cherenkov Telescope Array CTA: an advanced facility for ground-based high-energy gamma-ray astronomy
in Experimental Astronomy
Spezzi L
(2011)
DETECTION OF BROWN DWARF LIKE OBJECTS IN THE CORE OF NGC 3603
in The Astrophysical Journal
Awad Z
(2014)
Deuterium chemistry of dense gas in the vicinity of low-mass and massive star-forming regions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Legg E
(2012)
DIRECT MEASUREMENT OF THE X-RAY TIME-DELAY TRANSFER FUNCTION IN ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI
in The Astrophysical Journal
Serra P
(2013)
Discovery of a giant H i tail in the galaxy group HCG 44
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Serra P
(2012)
Discovery of a giant HI tail in the galaxy group HCG 44
Alatalo K
(2011)
DISCOVERY OF AN ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS DRIVEN MOLECULAR OUTFLOW IN THE LOCAL EARLY-TYPE GALAXY NGC 1266
in The Astrophysical Journal
Fritz A.
(2011)
Discovery of the Most Distant Object in the Universe at z~9.4
in Italian national Swift meeting: Swift and Surprising Sky
Fritz A.
(2011)
Discovery of the Most Distant Object in the Universe at z~9.4
in Swift and the Surprising Sky: The First Seven Years of Swift. Online at: <A href="http://www.brera.inaf.it/docM/OAB/Research/SWIFT/Swift7/?p=program">http://www.brera.inaf.it/docM/OAB/Research/SWIFT/Swift7/?p=program</A
Masters D
(2012)
DISCOVERY OF THREE DISTANT, COLD BROWN DWARFS IN THE WFC3 INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC PARALLELS SURVEY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Johnston E
(2013)
Disentangling the stellar populations in the counter-rotating disc galaxy NGC 4550
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Scott N
(2014)
Distribution of Slow and Fast Rotators in the Fornax Cluster
Scott N
(2014)
Distribution of slow and fast rotators in the Fornax cluster
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cappellari M
(2013)
Dynamical masses of early-type galaxies at z ~ 2
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Horesh A
(2012)
EARLY RADIO AND X-RAY OBSERVATIONS OF THE YOUNGEST NEARBY TYPE Ia SUPERNOVA PTF 11kly (SN 2011fe)
in The Astrophysical Journal
Oosterloo T
(2010)
Early-type galaxies in different environments: an H i view Early-type galaxies in different environments
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Han Z
(2010)
Editorial: special issue on hot subdwarf stars
in Astrophysics and Space Science
Cappellari M
(2013)
EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENT ON GALAXIES' MASS-SIZE DISTRIBUTION: UNVEILING THE TRANSITION FROM OUTSIDE-IN TO INSIDE-OUT EVOLUTION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Smirnov D
(2014)
Effect of exchange interaction on the spin fluctuations of localized electrons
in Physics of the Solid State
Bañados M
(2011)
Emergent flux from particle collisions near a Kerr black hole
in Physical Review D
Sanderson R
(2012)
Enhancements to velocity-dependent dark matter interactions from tidal streams and shells in the Andromeda galaxy Dark matter interactions in tidal streams
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Thomas D
(2010)
Environment and self-regulation in galaxy formation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lobban A
(2010)
Evidence for a truncated accretion disc in the low-luminosity Seyfert galaxy, NGC 7213? The Suzaku view of NGC 7213
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Alatalo K
(2015)
Evidence of boosted 13CO/12CO ratio in early-type galaxies in dense environments
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Perrett K
(2012)
EVOLUTION IN THE VOLUMETRIC TYPE Ia SUPERNOVA RATE FROM THE SUPERNOVA LEGACY SURVEY
in The Astronomical Journal
Han Z
(2010)
Evolution of binary stars and its implications for evolutionary population synthesis
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Hwang H
(2010)
Evolution of dust temperature of galaxies through cosmic time as seen by Herschel? Evolution of dust temperature of galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Description | Canada France Hawaii Telescope Lensing Survey (CFHTLenS) |
Organisation | Leiden University |
Department | Leiden Institute of Physics |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Miller was responsible for the shear measurements for this international collaboration, and took part in the cosmology analysis. |
Collaborator Contribution | Other aspects of the lensing analysis. |
Impact | Research publications |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Canada France Hawaii Telescope Lensing Survey (CFHTLenS) |
Organisation | University of British Columbia |
Country | Canada |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Miller was responsible for the shear measurements for this international collaboration, and took part in the cosmology analysis. |
Collaborator Contribution | Other aspects of the lensing analysis. |
Impact | Research publications |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Canada France Hawaii Telescope Lensing Survey (CFHTLenS) |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Department | School of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Miller was responsible for the shear measurements for this international collaboration, and took part in the cosmology analysis. |
Collaborator Contribution | Other aspects of the lensing analysis. |
Impact | Research publications |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | EarLy unIverse Exploration with nIRspec (ELIXIR) |
Organisation | Paris Institute of Astrophysics |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The Oxford network node has been analysing data from Hubble Space Telescope deep imaging fields (including those from the new WFC3 infrared camera) to determine observing strategies for JWST, and also to provide an initial target list for spectroscopy with NIRSpec on JWST. |
Collaborator Contribution | This is an EU FP7 network associated with the NIRSpec instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope. The Instrument Science Team comprises: Stephane Charlot (IAP, Paris - lead network); Andrew Bunker (Oxford); Marijn Franx (Leiden); Santiago Arribas (Madrid); Roberto Maiolino (Rome); Hans-Walter Rix (MPIA Heidelberg) and Peter Jakobsen (ESA), with out industrial partner (Astrium, Germany). We are responsible for the NIRSpec near-infrared spectrograph, which is being built and tested, and we will execute a 900-hour GTO programme to investigate galaxies at high redshift. The EU FP7 ELIXIR Network is intended to plan the science for this large programme. |
Impact | The Network funds several PhD students and Early Stage Researchers at the nodes across Europe, including two graduate students at Oxford (Joseph Caruana and Silvio Lorenzoni). These researchers have participated in many of the papers from our group, and Lorenzoni has a first-author paper accepted. |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Galaxies in the Reionization Epoch |
Organisation | California Institute of Technology |
Department | Caltech Astronomy |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Oxford has been responsible for reducing the Hubble Space Telescope images and identifying potential high-redshift candidates through colour selection. |
Collaborator Contribution | Oxford has lead this project, in collaboration with Prof Richard Ellis at Caltech, using archival Hubble Space Telescope images with WFC3 to identify Lyman-break galaxies at z=7 and beyond. Caltech has mainly been involved in the spectroscopic follow-up. |
Impact | Five refereed accepted papers so far (Bunker et al. 2010; Wilkins et al. 2010; Lorenzoni et al. 2011; Wilkins et al. 2011, Wilkins et al. 2012). A press release in December 2009, resulting in extensive coverage. Several invited talks at conferences. |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | Kilo Degree Survey weak lensing collaboration |
Organisation | Leiden University |
Department | Leiden Institute of Physics |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Responsible for the Point Spread Function modelling and weak lensing shear measurement, employed by the survey. Jointly responsible for cosmology analysis and paper writing. |
Collaborator Contribution | All other aspects of data collection, survey analysis and paper writing |
Impact | Research papers |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Kilo Degree Survey weak lensing collaboration |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Department | School of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Responsible for the Point Spread Function modelling and weak lensing shear measurement, employed by the survey. Jointly responsible for cosmology analysis and paper writing. |
Collaborator Contribution | All other aspects of data collection, survey analysis and paper writing |
Impact | Research papers |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | The WFC3 Spectroscopic Parallel (WISP) Survey |
Organisation | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
Department | Physics and Astronomy |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Oxford is responsible for studying the star formation rates of these galaxies from their H-alpha line luminosities, and for constructing the line luminosity function at redshifts around one. |
Collaborator Contribution | The WISP collaboration, based at UCLA and also the Spitzer Science Center (in Caltech) and with collaborators elsewhere in the USA and Germany, is responsible for reducing the Hubble Space Telescope slitless grism spectroscopy to search for emission line objects at high redshift. Most of this reduction and cataloging occurs in Los Angeles. |
Impact | One refereed paper on the initial work - Atek et al. (2010) - and several more in preparation. Various presentations by the team at American Astronomical Society meetings. |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Press release on the first Hubble WFC3 Deep Infrared Images |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | We issued a press release on our work on 8 December 2009 entitled "Reinvigorated Hubble Space Telescope Reveals Most Distant Galaxies Yet". Our press release results in extensive coverage in the scientific media and the international press including: Nature Blog http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2009/12/ hubble_revisits_distant_haunt.html BBC News (online) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8401374.stm We also appeared in The Times (print version) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |