Astronomy Research at Queen Mary 2012-2015
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen Mary University of London
Department Name: Astronomy Unit
Abstract
Our programme of research in Astronomy comprises projects spanning the breadth of the subject. We will study aspects of the solar system such as Saturn's ring system, the formation of the terrestrial planets, particle acceleration in the solar corona and turbulence in the solar wind. Although rooted in the solar system, the results of these projects will be relevant for many other astrophysical environments. We will study aspects of extra-solar planets, including formation and atmospheres. We will carry out projects to study cosmology and the early history of the Universe. Although the majority of our projects are theoretical, we will carry out observational projects such as the VISTA surveys. The large range of research areas provides a stimulating environment which encourages a view of Astronomy as the study of all of the Universe and its history.
We now know of many planets orbiting stars other than the Sun. How these extra-solar planets and those in our Solar System formed is a major unsolved question. Planets form in the gas-dust discs observed around young stars. We will use sophisticated computer simulations to model these discs, and examine the evolution of embedded planetesimals and planets. We will study collisions between planetesimals; migration of planets; gas accretion and gap formation in the disc by forming giant planets. We will examine the formation of rocky terrestrial planets using simulation codes which model planetary collisions. We will also examine atmospheric dynamics in short-period planets. Their proximity to the star generates intense heating and complex flow patterns which may be used to interpret observations of these hot planets.
The Cassini space mission has provided a wealth of images of the rings of Saturn. We will study the mechanism by which gravitational instability in a ring can be induced by a passing moon using the F ring-Prometheus system as a paradigm. We can model this in numerical simulations and test our results by comparison with actual rings and accompanying moonlets seen in Cassini data. The lifetime of Saturn's rings is an unsolved problem. The current best estimate suggests that the rings can only survive for ~400My, or <10% of the age of the solar system. We intend to investigate a possible means of "locking" the ring system using a resonance with a more massive, exterior moon such as Mimas. We will also provide the Rosetta CONSERT team with the latest information on Jupiter family comets.
The corona is the upper layer of the Sun's atmosphere and the source of the solar wind, the plasma which flows out through the solar system. Understanding how the solar wind stays hot is a key problem and we will study the role of plasma turbulence and how it dissipates at the smallest kinetic scales. The solar corona is also a source of energetic particles, and explaining how electrons and ions are accelerated in flares is a long-standing problem. We will study acceleration processes which use the interaction of waves (dispersive Alfven waves) and particles, based on realistic inhomogeneous plasma configurations. All these studies will use large-scale, self-consistent plasma simulations.
Cosmology has been transformed in recent years from a data poor to a very data rich area. Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) experiments and Large Scale Structure surveys have contributed to this transformation, challenging theoretical cosmologists to explain these data sets. We will work on four different but complementary projects. We will extend cosmological perturbation theory beyond linear order and apply it to new phenomena and observables. Our study of inflationary cosmology focuses on new multi-field models of the early universe and their observational consequences. We will investigate black holes as a probe of cosmology and particle physics, and study the so-called surfing effect in cosmology to obtain constraints on parity violation using the polarisation of the CMB.
We now know of many planets orbiting stars other than the Sun. How these extra-solar planets and those in our Solar System formed is a major unsolved question. Planets form in the gas-dust discs observed around young stars. We will use sophisticated computer simulations to model these discs, and examine the evolution of embedded planetesimals and planets. We will study collisions between planetesimals; migration of planets; gas accretion and gap formation in the disc by forming giant planets. We will examine the formation of rocky terrestrial planets using simulation codes which model planetary collisions. We will also examine atmospheric dynamics in short-period planets. Their proximity to the star generates intense heating and complex flow patterns which may be used to interpret observations of these hot planets.
The Cassini space mission has provided a wealth of images of the rings of Saturn. We will study the mechanism by which gravitational instability in a ring can be induced by a passing moon using the F ring-Prometheus system as a paradigm. We can model this in numerical simulations and test our results by comparison with actual rings and accompanying moonlets seen in Cassini data. The lifetime of Saturn's rings is an unsolved problem. The current best estimate suggests that the rings can only survive for ~400My, or <10% of the age of the solar system. We intend to investigate a possible means of "locking" the ring system using a resonance with a more massive, exterior moon such as Mimas. We will also provide the Rosetta CONSERT team with the latest information on Jupiter family comets.
The corona is the upper layer of the Sun's atmosphere and the source of the solar wind, the plasma which flows out through the solar system. Understanding how the solar wind stays hot is a key problem and we will study the role of plasma turbulence and how it dissipates at the smallest kinetic scales. The solar corona is also a source of energetic particles, and explaining how electrons and ions are accelerated in flares is a long-standing problem. We will study acceleration processes which use the interaction of waves (dispersive Alfven waves) and particles, based on realistic inhomogeneous plasma configurations. All these studies will use large-scale, self-consistent plasma simulations.
Cosmology has been transformed in recent years from a data poor to a very data rich area. Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) experiments and Large Scale Structure surveys have contributed to this transformation, challenging theoretical cosmologists to explain these data sets. We will work on four different but complementary projects. We will extend cosmological perturbation theory beyond linear order and apply it to new phenomena and observables. Our study of inflationary cosmology focuses on new multi-field models of the early universe and their observational consequences. We will investigate black holes as a probe of cosmology and particle physics, and study the so-called surfing effect in cosmology to obtain constraints on parity violation using the polarisation of the CMB.
Planned Impact
Outreach
Astronomy, with the combination of awe-inspiring images (eg VISTA images at eso.org) and the desire to explain how the Universe works, has always excited a deep interest in the general public. Astronomy and space science are often quoted by students as a motivation to continue studying science to university level. The wide ranging programme of proposed Astronomy research will be a basis for building on the Astronomy Unit's existing programme of outreach activities.
We will reach audiences of schools and the general public by websites, talks, exhibitions, outreach events, popular science articles and media appearances.
The Astronomy Unit has a long tradition of outreach activities, supported by the University with a Outreach Manager for Physics and Mathematics. We have been involved in the following:
* Week-long residential Astrophysics course for teachers covering the topic of Astrophysics sponsored by Goldsmiths' Company
www.maths.qmul.ac.uk/home/for-schools-colleges/goldsmiths-company-mathematics-course-for-teachers
* Cassini Scientist for a Day competition for 11-18 year olds run in conjunction with NASA. Students submit essays arguing for targets to be imaged by the Cassini spacecraft. The Astronomy Unit runs the UK and Ireland competition. www.maths.qmul.ac.uk/schools/cassini
* Cosmic Futures competition for 8-18 year olds run in conjunction with the Metro newspaper and the UK Space Agency. Students are tasked with producing a poster or essay describing the work of the UK Space Agency. Winners contribute to an astronomy magazine to be distributed nationally. This has evolved from our award-winning Media Space programme which has produced magazines on the topics of human spaceflight, Saturn, Jupiter and space careers. These were written and designed by 15-16 year olds from local schools in Tower Hamlets. For details on Cosmic Futures: www.cosmonline.co.uk/cosmic-futures. Details on Media Space: www.maths.qmul.ac.uk/schools/mediaspace
* Astrophysics Taster Course: aimed at A-level students, this one day course offers an insight into what it's like to study the subject at university. Lectures from the Astronomy Unit are a mixture of research and example subject lectures.
* Our Space resources: Space Tourist Richard Garriott spent 10 days on the International Space Station in 2008. Whilst he was there he filmed many science demonstrations. We were involved in collating the materials and resources and presenting them on an accessible site where films, images and sound clips can be downloaded for use. www.our-space.org Lesson plans and other resources for teachers are currently being prepared.
* Astronomy Unit postgraduate students have contributed to the schools programme at the Royal Observatory Greenwich by running workshops for visiting school groups.
* Physics Academy: we hold a week-long summer school for A-level students. They attend one day of lectures and then work on onespecific area in-depth. The Astronomy Unit offers a project for the students to follow and in 2010 this was on solar physics.
* Members of the Astronomy Unit deliver talks and workshops on their research for schools colleges and astronomy societies.
Knowledge Exchange
The proposed research is mostly of a theoretical nature in Astronomy, and not directly exploitable. However within the programme there are some suitable areas (eg plasma physics, computational modelling) for which we remain alert to opportunities for exploitation using the KE infrastructure in Queen Mary.
We will explore and participate in opportunities in interdisciplinary research. QM is likely to develop a focus on simulation within the Science & Engineering faculty and we will contribute expertise on HPC computer modelling.
Our research programme produces postdoctoral staff and postgraduate students with high level scientific and research skills contributing to the academic and industrial base. Often these move into areas other that Astronomy.
Astronomy, with the combination of awe-inspiring images (eg VISTA images at eso.org) and the desire to explain how the Universe works, has always excited a deep interest in the general public. Astronomy and space science are often quoted by students as a motivation to continue studying science to university level. The wide ranging programme of proposed Astronomy research will be a basis for building on the Astronomy Unit's existing programme of outreach activities.
We will reach audiences of schools and the general public by websites, talks, exhibitions, outreach events, popular science articles and media appearances.
The Astronomy Unit has a long tradition of outreach activities, supported by the University with a Outreach Manager for Physics and Mathematics. We have been involved in the following:
* Week-long residential Astrophysics course for teachers covering the topic of Astrophysics sponsored by Goldsmiths' Company
www.maths.qmul.ac.uk/home/for-schools-colleges/goldsmiths-company-mathematics-course-for-teachers
* Cassini Scientist for a Day competition for 11-18 year olds run in conjunction with NASA. Students submit essays arguing for targets to be imaged by the Cassini spacecraft. The Astronomy Unit runs the UK and Ireland competition. www.maths.qmul.ac.uk/schools/cassini
* Cosmic Futures competition for 8-18 year olds run in conjunction with the Metro newspaper and the UK Space Agency. Students are tasked with producing a poster or essay describing the work of the UK Space Agency. Winners contribute to an astronomy magazine to be distributed nationally. This has evolved from our award-winning Media Space programme which has produced magazines on the topics of human spaceflight, Saturn, Jupiter and space careers. These were written and designed by 15-16 year olds from local schools in Tower Hamlets. For details on Cosmic Futures: www.cosmonline.co.uk/cosmic-futures. Details on Media Space: www.maths.qmul.ac.uk/schools/mediaspace
* Astrophysics Taster Course: aimed at A-level students, this one day course offers an insight into what it's like to study the subject at university. Lectures from the Astronomy Unit are a mixture of research and example subject lectures.
* Our Space resources: Space Tourist Richard Garriott spent 10 days on the International Space Station in 2008. Whilst he was there he filmed many science demonstrations. We were involved in collating the materials and resources and presenting them on an accessible site where films, images and sound clips can be downloaded for use. www.our-space.org Lesson plans and other resources for teachers are currently being prepared.
* Astronomy Unit postgraduate students have contributed to the schools programme at the Royal Observatory Greenwich by running workshops for visiting school groups.
* Physics Academy: we hold a week-long summer school for A-level students. They attend one day of lectures and then work on onespecific area in-depth. The Astronomy Unit offers a project for the students to follow and in 2010 this was on solar physics.
* Members of the Astronomy Unit deliver talks and workshops on their research for schools colleges and astronomy societies.
Knowledge Exchange
The proposed research is mostly of a theoretical nature in Astronomy, and not directly exploitable. However within the programme there are some suitable areas (eg plasma physics, computational modelling) for which we remain alert to opportunities for exploitation using the KE infrastructure in Queen Mary.
We will explore and participate in opportunities in interdisciplinary research. QM is likely to develop a focus on simulation within the Science & Engineering faculty and we will contribute expertise on HPC computer modelling.
Our research programme produces postdoctoral staff and postgraduate students with high level scientific and research skills contributing to the academic and industrial base. Often these move into areas other that Astronomy.
Publications
Christopherson A
(2012)
Modelling non-dust fluids in cosmology
Christopherson A
(2015)
A short note on the curvature perturbation at second order
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Christopherson A
(2014)
A short note on the curvature perturbation at second order
Cioni M
(2012)
The VMC Survey VI. Quasars behind the Magellanic system?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Clemens A
(2016)
Pickup ion processes associated with spacecraft thrusters: Implications for solar probe plus
in Physics of Plasmas
Clifton T
(2012)
An exact quantification of backreaction in relativistic cosmology
in Physical Review D
Clifton T
(2013)
Exact evolution of discrete relativistic cosmological models
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Clifton T
(2013)
Exact Evolution of Discrete Relativistic Cosmological Models
Clifton T
(2013)
A gravitational entropy proposal
in Classical and Quantum Gravity
Coleman G
(2014)
On the formation of planetary systems via oligarchic growth in thermally evolving viscous discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cooper N
(2014)
Cassini ISS mutual event astrometry of the mid-sized Saturnian satellites 2005-2012
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Cooper N
(2013)
LOCAL VARIABILITY IN THE ORBIT OF SATURN'S F RING
in The Astronomical Journal
Cooper N
(2014)
SATURN'S INNER SATELLITES: ORBITS, MASSES, AND THE CHAOTIC MOTION OF ATLAS FROM NEW CASSINI IMAGING OBSERVATIONS
in The Astronomical Journal
Cross N
(2012)
The VISTA Science Archive
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
De Jong J
(2015)
The first and second data releases of the Kilo-Degree Survey
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Dias M
(2015)
The curvature perturbation at second order
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Dias M
(2016)
Numerical evaluation of the bispectrum in multiple field inflation-the transport approach with code
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Donnison J
(2014)
Analytical model for the evolution of giant extrasolar planets
in Planetary and Space Science
Donnison J
(2014)
Limits on the Orbits of Possible Eccentric and Inclined Moons of Extrasolar Planets Orbiting Single Stars
in Earth, Moon, and Planets
Driver S
(2013)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the 0.013 < z < 0.1 cosmic spectral energy distribution from 0.1 m to 1 mm
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Driver S
(2015)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): Panchromatic Data Release (far-UV-far-IR) and the low- z energy budget
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ellis J
(2014)
Exploring two-field inflation in the Wess-Zumino model
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Elliston J
(2012)
Large trispectrum in two-field slow-roll inflation
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Elliston J
(2013)
What Planck does not tell us about inflation
in Physical Review D
Elliston J
(2012)
The inflationary bispectrum with curved field-space
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Elliston J
(2014)
General analytic predictions of two-field inflation and perturbative reheating
in Physical Review D
Enqvist K
(2015)
Resolving primordial physics through correlated signatures
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Enqvist K
(2014)
Resolving primordial physics through correlated signatures
Fasiello M
(2015)
Mild bounds on bigravity from primordial gravitational waves
Fasiello M
(2015)
Mild bounds on bigravity from primordial gravitational waves
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Fendyke S
(2014)
On the corotation torque for low-mass eccentric planets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Findlay J
(2012)
Selection constraints on high-redshift quasar searches in the VISTA Kilo-degree Infrared Galaxy survey Quasar selection in VIKING
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Firouzjahi H
(2013)
Effect of curvaton decay on the primordial power spectrum
in Physical Review D
Firouzjahi H
(2012)
The Effect of Curvaton Decay on the Primordial Power Spectrum
Fleuren S
(2012)
Herschel -ATLAS: VISTA VIKING near-infrared counterparts in the Phase 1 GAMA 9-h data ? Herschel-ATLAS: VIKING counterparts
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Foster C
(2012)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the mass-metallicity relationship
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gauza B
(2012)
A new L dwarf member of the moderately metal poor triple system HD 221356 A new L dwarf member of the HD 221356 system
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gingell I
(2017)
Three-dimensional simulations of sheared current sheets: transition to turbulence?
in Journal of Plasma Physics
Gingell P
(2015)
THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL EVOLUTION OF ION-SCALE CURRENT SHEETS: TEARING AND DRIFT-KINK INSTABILITIES IN THE PRESENCE OF PROTON TEMPERATURE ANISOTROPY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gingell P
(2015)
The impact of a hot sodium ion population on the growth of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in Mercury's magnetotail
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
González-Nuevo J
(2012)
HERSCHEL -ATLAS: TOWARD A SAMPLE OF ~1000 STRONGLY LENSED GALAXIES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Graf Von Der Pahlen J
(2016)
Role of electron inertia and reconnection dynamics in a stressed X -point collapse with a guide-field
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Graf Von Der Pahlen J
(2014)
The effect of guide-field and boundary conditions on collisionless magnetic reconnection in a stressed X -point collapse
in Physics of Plasmas
Graf Von Der Pahlen J
(2015)
The effects of ion mass variation and domain size on octupolar out-of-plane magnetic field generation in collisionless magnetic reconnection
in Physics of Plasmas
Gratia P
(2016)
Double screening
Gratia P
(2016)
Double screening
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Greggio L
(2014)
A panoramic VISTA of the stellar halo of NGC 253
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gressel O
(2013)
GLOBAL HYDROMAGNETIC SIMULATIONS OF A PLANET EMBEDDED IN A DEAD ZONE: GAP OPENING, GAS ACCRETION, AND FORMATION OF A PROTOPLANETARY JET
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gressel O
(2012)
Dead zones as safe havens for planetesimals: influence of disc mass and external magnetic field Scaling relations for planetesimal stirring
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society