IoA Theoretical and X-ray Astronomy consolidation
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Institute of Astronomy
Abstract
This proposal is for an interim grant to support research in Theoretical Astrophysics and X-ray Astronomy at the Institute of Astronomy (IoA), as part of a transition to a fully consolidated IoA Astronomy grant proposal in 2012.
The Theory theme addresses a wide range of astrophysical phenomena ranging from the origin of the Universe itself to the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars and planets. One of the main areas of investigation is cosmology. Members of the IoA are playing a leading role in the European Space Agency Planck mission, and will lead a definitive determination of the cosmological parameters including the age, size, dark matter, dark energy and baryonic contents of the Universe. Another project will carry out theoretical simulations and analysis of the subsequent evolution of cosmic structure during the epoch of reionisation, when the first stars and galaxies were formed.
Star formation is another major focus of the grant, on scales ranging from galaxies, where the molecular clouds giving birth to stars are formed, to the formation of stars and star clusters within these molecular clouds. These investigations will combine state-of-the-art numerical simulations with analytical theory and a rich new set of multi-wavelength observations of nearby galaxies being obtained with the Herschel and Spitzer space observatories under IoA leadership.
The understanding of planetary systems around stars and their formation is another goal of the Theory theme. One project will focus on modelling the properties of debris discs, discs of asteroids, cometary objects, and dust surrounding stars, using a complete IoA-led survey of nearby stars with the Herschel observatory (DEBRIS project). Another project is directed at modelling the evolution of the planetary orbits themselves in different stellar environments and stellar evolutionary stages.
The final component of the Theoretical Astronomy theme is the modelling of binary star systems, and improving our understanding of how double star systems evolve when the component stars are immersed in a common envelope. This phase of evolution is important for understanding a wide range of observed stellar systems including cataclysmic variables, X-ray binaries, and the progenitors of supernovae, including the Type Ia supernovae which are used as cosmological standard candles.
The second theme of the proposal is X-ray Astronomy. The research will exploit a large body of observations of galaxies, galaxy clusters, and Galactic X-ray binary systems being obtained by the X-ray group on the Chandra, XMM-Newton, Suzaku and ASTRO-H X-ray observatories to carry out three projects.
One project will carry out measurements of the spin of black holes, both the supermassive black holes which power the enormous energy emissions from quasars and other active galactic nuclei, and the stellar-mass black holes in binary star systems. This work, based on spectroscopy of relativistically-broadened iron lines, will also provide insights into the accretion phenomena that power the systems.
Another project will combine deep X-ray imaging and spectroscopy of the cores of galaxy clusters to study the physical conditions, turbulence, and acoustic waves and shocks in the intracluster medium, and constrain the physical nature of the feedback of radiative and mechanical energy from the galaxies in the cores of the cluster and the surrounding intergalactic gas in the clusters.
A related project will combine these X-ray data with multi-wavelength measurements of the intergalactic filaments and other gas components in the clusters, to understand the feedback processes linking cooling of intergalactic gas into the central galaxies and the subsequent heating of the surroundings by the central galaxies and their embedded black holes.
The Theory theme addresses a wide range of astrophysical phenomena ranging from the origin of the Universe itself to the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars and planets. One of the main areas of investigation is cosmology. Members of the IoA are playing a leading role in the European Space Agency Planck mission, and will lead a definitive determination of the cosmological parameters including the age, size, dark matter, dark energy and baryonic contents of the Universe. Another project will carry out theoretical simulations and analysis of the subsequent evolution of cosmic structure during the epoch of reionisation, when the first stars and galaxies were formed.
Star formation is another major focus of the grant, on scales ranging from galaxies, where the molecular clouds giving birth to stars are formed, to the formation of stars and star clusters within these molecular clouds. These investigations will combine state-of-the-art numerical simulations with analytical theory and a rich new set of multi-wavelength observations of nearby galaxies being obtained with the Herschel and Spitzer space observatories under IoA leadership.
The understanding of planetary systems around stars and their formation is another goal of the Theory theme. One project will focus on modelling the properties of debris discs, discs of asteroids, cometary objects, and dust surrounding stars, using a complete IoA-led survey of nearby stars with the Herschel observatory (DEBRIS project). Another project is directed at modelling the evolution of the planetary orbits themselves in different stellar environments and stellar evolutionary stages.
The final component of the Theoretical Astronomy theme is the modelling of binary star systems, and improving our understanding of how double star systems evolve when the component stars are immersed in a common envelope. This phase of evolution is important for understanding a wide range of observed stellar systems including cataclysmic variables, X-ray binaries, and the progenitors of supernovae, including the Type Ia supernovae which are used as cosmological standard candles.
The second theme of the proposal is X-ray Astronomy. The research will exploit a large body of observations of galaxies, galaxy clusters, and Galactic X-ray binary systems being obtained by the X-ray group on the Chandra, XMM-Newton, Suzaku and ASTRO-H X-ray observatories to carry out three projects.
One project will carry out measurements of the spin of black holes, both the supermassive black holes which power the enormous energy emissions from quasars and other active galactic nuclei, and the stellar-mass black holes in binary star systems. This work, based on spectroscopy of relativistically-broadened iron lines, will also provide insights into the accretion phenomena that power the systems.
Another project will combine deep X-ray imaging and spectroscopy of the cores of galaxy clusters to study the physical conditions, turbulence, and acoustic waves and shocks in the intracluster medium, and constrain the physical nature of the feedback of radiative and mechanical energy from the galaxies in the cores of the cluster and the surrounding intergalactic gas in the clusters.
A related project will combine these X-ray data with multi-wavelength measurements of the intergalactic filaments and other gas components in the clusters, to understand the feedback processes linking cooling of intergalactic gas into the central galaxies and the subsequent heating of the surroundings by the central galaxies and their embedded black holes.
Planned Impact
The main societal impacts of this research are in the areas of public engagement and inspiration of future young scientists. Many of the proposed projects are coupled to high-profile missions and investigations,
which will impact the public through press and image releases, public lectures, interviews with the print, radio, and television media, popular articles and books, and formally organised outreach activities.
Projects which are sure to produce high-impact science in the public area include the announcement of first full results on cosmological parameters from the ESA Planck mission in early 2013, work on deep X-ray imaging and spectroscopy of clusters with the XMM-Newton and Chandra missions, and the interpretations of data from the Herschel Space Observatory on star formation in galaxies and debris discs. The Co-Applicants and their collaborators have established a heritage of high-visibility results in these and related areas, and will coordinate closely with media and outreach offices of the STFC, ESA, and relevant mission offices.
The Institute of Astronomy fully embraces the outreach agenda of the STFC, and the research activities in the Theoretical Astronomy and X-ray Astronomy themes form core components feeding these activities. Impacts will arise from a combination of IoA-organised efforts and individual activities by the Co-Applicants and PDRAs.
The wide range of outreach activity is made possible by the critical mass of astronomy activity at IoA and through contributions from our major research grants and from Departmental resources. These include weekly public evening lectures and (weather permitting) observing sessions in the winter which attract more than 1500 people per year, an annual open day which attracts comparable numbers in a single afternoon and evening, one-day schools workshops, on-line newsletters, podcasts, and an informal website, and an Artist-in-Residence programme.
Virtually every Co-Applicant and PDRA also undertakes public engagement and outreach activities individually, and many (e.g., Crawford, Efstathiou, Fabian, Kennicutt, Rees) have engaged in scores of activities over the past five years, via named and national public lectures, speaking at national amateur astronomy meetings and festivals, radio and television interviews and programmes, and by writing popular articles and books. Worth of special mention is the recent work by Fabian with the STFC in developing a booklet "A New View of the Universe: Big Science for a Big Society" which presents the scientific and Council objectives for astronomy in the coming decade, and documents the many broader economic and societal impacts of astronomy, ranging from technology transfer (e.g., WIFI, GPS, detectors, adaptive optics) to major societal priorities (e.g., climate change, energy sustainability). Co-Applicant C. Crawford, in addition to leading the IoA outreach programme, is an active spokesperson for astronomy in her own right, and in 2009 was received a UKRC Woman of Outstanding Achievement award in recognition of her work in fostering engagement between scientists and the public. Last but hardly least Co-Applicant and Astronomer Royal M. Rees continues to serve as one of the UK's leaders in the scientific community, and has engaged with the public on countless occasions through books and popular articles, public lectures, and most recently through is service as President of the Royal Society.
The effectiveness of this collection of activities owes much of its success to the work of the IoA Outreach Officer, Co-Applicant Carolin Crawford. This work is supported by an 0.5 FTE appointment, and this proposal requests funding for 40% of this work (0.2 FTE), which we estimate represents the fraction of activities relating to the work of the Applicants and PDRAs on this grant.
which will impact the public through press and image releases, public lectures, interviews with the print, radio, and television media, popular articles and books, and formally organised outreach activities.
Projects which are sure to produce high-impact science in the public area include the announcement of first full results on cosmological parameters from the ESA Planck mission in early 2013, work on deep X-ray imaging and spectroscopy of clusters with the XMM-Newton and Chandra missions, and the interpretations of data from the Herschel Space Observatory on star formation in galaxies and debris discs. The Co-Applicants and their collaborators have established a heritage of high-visibility results in these and related areas, and will coordinate closely with media and outreach offices of the STFC, ESA, and relevant mission offices.
The Institute of Astronomy fully embraces the outreach agenda of the STFC, and the research activities in the Theoretical Astronomy and X-ray Astronomy themes form core components feeding these activities. Impacts will arise from a combination of IoA-organised efforts and individual activities by the Co-Applicants and PDRAs.
The wide range of outreach activity is made possible by the critical mass of astronomy activity at IoA and through contributions from our major research grants and from Departmental resources. These include weekly public evening lectures and (weather permitting) observing sessions in the winter which attract more than 1500 people per year, an annual open day which attracts comparable numbers in a single afternoon and evening, one-day schools workshops, on-line newsletters, podcasts, and an informal website, and an Artist-in-Residence programme.
Virtually every Co-Applicant and PDRA also undertakes public engagement and outreach activities individually, and many (e.g., Crawford, Efstathiou, Fabian, Kennicutt, Rees) have engaged in scores of activities over the past five years, via named and national public lectures, speaking at national amateur astronomy meetings and festivals, radio and television interviews and programmes, and by writing popular articles and books. Worth of special mention is the recent work by Fabian with the STFC in developing a booklet "A New View of the Universe: Big Science for a Big Society" which presents the scientific and Council objectives for astronomy in the coming decade, and documents the many broader economic and societal impacts of astronomy, ranging from technology transfer (e.g., WIFI, GPS, detectors, adaptive optics) to major societal priorities (e.g., climate change, energy sustainability). Co-Applicant C. Crawford, in addition to leading the IoA outreach programme, is an active spokesperson for astronomy in her own right, and in 2009 was received a UKRC Woman of Outstanding Achievement award in recognition of her work in fostering engagement between scientists and the public. Last but hardly least Co-Applicant and Astronomer Royal M. Rees continues to serve as one of the UK's leaders in the scientific community, and has engaged with the public on countless occasions through books and popular articles, public lectures, and most recently through is service as President of the Royal Society.
The effectiveness of this collection of activities owes much of its success to the work of the IoA Outreach Officer, Co-Applicant Carolin Crawford. This work is supported by an 0.5 FTE appointment, and this proposal requests funding for 40% of this work (0.2 FTE), which we estimate represents the fraction of activities relating to the work of the Applicants and PDRAs on this grant.
Organisations
Publications
Becker G
(2012)
IRON AND a-ELEMENT PRODUCTION IN THE FIRST ONE BILLION YEARS AFTER THE BIG BANG , ,
in The Astrophysical Journal
Beirão P
(2012)
A STUDY OF HEATING AND COOLING OF THE ISM IN NGC 1097 WITH HERSCHEL -PACS AND SPITZER -IRS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Bendo G
(2012)
Investigations of dust heating in M81, M83 and NGC 2403 with the Herschel Space Observatory Dust heating in M81, M83 and NGC 2403
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Berg D
(2012)
DIRECT OXYGEN ABUNDANCES FOR LOW-LUMINOSITY LVL GALAXIES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Bernard E
(2012)
A deep, wide-field study of Holmberg II with Suprime-Cam: evidence for ram pressure stripping A wide-field study of Holmberg II
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bernard E
(2012)
The star formation history and dust content in the far outer disc of M31? The far outer disc of M31
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bernardeau F
(2012)
Cosmic shear bispectrum from second-order perturbations in general relativity
in Physical Review D
Berry C
(2013)
Observing the Galaxy's massive black hole with gravitational wave bursts
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bilir S
(2012)
Local stellar kinematics from RAVE data - III. Radial and vertical metallicity gradients based on red clump stars Metallicity gradient from RAVE DR3
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bird S
(2012)
Massive neutrinos and the non-linear matter power spectrum The matter power with neutrinos
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Birkby J
(2012)
Discovery and characterization of detached M dwarf eclipsing binaries in the WFCAM Transit Survey WTS: masses and radii of M dwarf EBs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Boccaletti A
(2012)
SPICES: spectro-polarimetric imaging and characterization of exoplanetary systems From planetary disks to nearby Super Earths
in Experimental Astronomy
Bolton J
(2012)
Improved measurements of the intergalactic medium temperature around quasars: possible evidence for the initial stages of He ii reionization at z ? 6 IGM temperature measurements around z ? 6 quasars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bolton J
(2013)
On the rapid demise of Ly a emitters at redshift z ? 7 due to the increasing incidence of optically thick absorption systems
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bonsor A
(2012)
The scattering of small bodies in planetary systems: constraints on the possible orbits of cometary material Scattering in planetary systems
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bonvin C
(2012)
Erratum: Fluctuations of the luminosity distance [Phys. Rev. D 73 , 023523 (2006)]
in Physical Review D
Bonvin C
(2012)
Magnetic fields from inflation: The transition to the radiation era
in Physical Review D
Booth M
(2012)
Resolved debris discs around A stars in the Herschel DEBRIS survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Botticella M
(2012)
A comparison between star formation rate diagnostics and rate of core collapse supernovae within 11 Mpc
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bouwens R
(2012)
LOWER-LUMINOSITY GALAXIES COULD REIONIZE THE UNIVERSE: VERY STEEP FAINT-END SLOPES TO THE UV LUMINOSITY FUNCTIONS AT z ? 5-8 FROM THE HUDF09 WFC3/IR OBSERVATIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Bouwens R
(2012)
UV-CONTINUUM SLOPES AT z ~ 4-7 FROM THE HUDF09+ERS+CANDELS OBSERVATIONS: DISCOVERY OF A WELL-DEFINED UV COLOR-MAGNITUDE RELATIONSHIP FOR z ? 4 STAR-FORMING GALAXIES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Bouwens R
(2013)
PHOTOMETRIC CONSTRAINTS ON THE REDSHIFT OF z ~ 10 CANDIDATE UDFj-39546284 FROM DEEPER WFC3/IR+ACS+IRAC OBSERVATIONS OVER THE HUDF
in The Astrophysical Journal
Bovy J
(2012)
PHOTOMETRIC REDSHIFTS AND QUASAR PROBABILITIES FROM A SINGLE, DATA-DRIVEN GENERATIVE MODEL
in The Astrophysical Journal
Bradley L
(2012)
THE BRIGHTEST OF REIONIZING GALAXIES SURVEY: CONSTRAINTS ON THE BRIGHT END OF THE z ~ 8 LUMINOSITY FUNCTION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Brenneman L
(2014)
MEASURING THE CORONAL PROPERTIES OF IC 4329A WITH NuSTAR
in The Astrophysical Journal
Bresolin F
(2012)
GAS METALLICITIES IN THE EXTENDED DISKS OF NGC 1512 AND NGC 3621. CHEMICAL SIGNATURES OF METAL MIXING OR ENRICHED GAS ACCRETION?
in The Astrophysical Journal
Brewer B
(2014)
The SWELLS survey - VI. Hierarchical inference of the initial mass functions of bulges and discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Brewer B
(2012)
The SWELLS survey - III. Disfavouring 'heavy' initial mass functions for spiral lens galaxies SWELLS - III. Disfavouring heavy IMFs in spirals
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Broekhoven-Fiene H
(2013)
THE DEBRIS DISK AROUND ? DORADUS RESOLVED WITH HERSCHEL
in The Astrophysical Journal
Budzynski J
(2012)
The radial distribution of galaxies in groups and clusters Satellite profiles in groups and clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cackett E
(2013)
A SOFT X-RAY REVERBERATION LAG IN THE AGN ESO 113-G010
in The Astrophysical Journal
Cackett E
(2014)
Modelling the broad Fe Ka reverberation in the AGN NGC 4151
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cackett E
(2012)
A COMPARISON OF BROAD IRON EMISSION LINES IN ARCHIVAL DATA OF NEUTRON STAR LOW-MASS X-RAY BINARIES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Cackett E
(2013)
A soft x-ray reverberation lag in the agn ESO 113-G010
Canizares P
(2012)
Testing Chern-Simons modified gravity with observations of extreme-mass-ratio binaries
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Canizares P
(2012)
Testing Chern-Simons modified gravity with gravitational-wave detections of extreme-mass-ratio binaries
in Physical Review D
Canning R
(2013)
A multiwavelength view of cooling versus AGN heating in the X-ray luminous cool-core of Abell 3581?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Canning R
(2012)
Riding the wake of a merging galaxy cluster Abell 2146 BCG
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cantalupo S
(2012)
Detection of dark galaxies and circum-galactic filaments fluorescently illuminated by a quasar at z = 2.4 Dark galaxies and CGM illuminated by a QSO
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cappetta M
(2012)
The first planet detected in the WTS: an inflated hot Jupiter in a 3.35 d orbit around a late F star Inflated HJ in close orbit around a late-F-star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Carballo-Bello J
(2012)
Outer density profiles of 19 Galactic globular clusters from deep and wide-field imaging Outer density profiles of globular clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Carilli C
(2013)
THE ANATOMY OF AN EXTREME STARBURST WITHIN 1.3 Gyr OF THE BIG BANG REVEALED BY ALMA
in The Astrophysical Journal
Carswell R
(2012)
The kinetic temperature in a damped Lyman a absorption system in Q2206-199 - an example of the warm neutral medium Warm neutral gas towards Q2206-199
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Casewell S
(2012)
A photometric and astrometric investigation of the brown dwarfs in Blanco 1 Blanco 1 brown dwarfs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Casewell S
(2012)
WD0837+185: THE FORMATION AND EVOLUTION OF AN EXTREME MASS-RATIO WHITE-DWARF-BROWN-DWARF BINARY IN PRAESEPE
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Chiang C
(2012)
Analysing the Suzaku spectra of the broad-line Seyfert 1 galaxy CBS 126 Modelling CBS 126
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Chiang C
(2012)
Re-examining the XMM-Newton spectrum of the black hole candidate XTE J1652-453 Re-examining XMM spectrum of XTE J1652-453
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Chiang C
(2013)
Confirmation of the nature of the absorber in IRAS 09104+4109
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society