A Programme of Astronomical Instrumentation and High-Energy Astrophysics at Durham 2013-2015
Lead Research Organisation:
Durham University
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
We propose to consolidate our successful rolling programme of research and development in astronomical instrumentation for ground- and space-based telescopes with observational and theoretical work in high-energy astrophysics. Over the period 2013-2015 we will make high-fidelity laboratory experiments to assess the applicability of adaptive optics correction down to visible wavelengths, and exploit data from vertical turbulence profiling equipment to study the effects of low-altitude turbulence on telescope performance. We will also continue our joint programme with ESO to develop the next generation of real-time control systems for future adaptive optics systems, and undertake a development programme using our in-house manufacturing capability to deliver high-precision large-diameter diamond-machined optics for next-generation instruments. We will explore the application of photonics technologies to improving the versatility and efficiency of future astronomical spectrographs using fibre switches and image-stabilising optics. Our rolled up high energy astrophysics programme will use data from new hard X-ray satellites to study extreme accretion flows around compact objects, and will develop an outreach programme for the next-generation high energy gamma ray facility, the Cherenkov Telescope Array.
Planned Impact
The research will benefit UK astronomers by providing them with new technologies for implementing advanced modes of astronomical adaptive optics and improving the efficiency of optical/infrared spectroscopy. Astronomers worldwide will benefit from the synergy with technology developments at other observatories. Industry will benefit from cutting-edge developments of their systems (particularly real-time computing) and in supplying COTS items to the programme. The field of high-energy astrophysics will be moved forward by access to new data from hard X-ray telescopes, and by an effective outreach programme for CTA which helps secure future UK involvement.
Organisations
Publications
Mezcua M
(2013)
Radio observations of extreme ULXs: revealing the most powerful ULX radio nebula ever or the jet of an intermediate-mass black hole?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Collinson J
(2015)
Reaching the peak of the quasar spectral energy distribution - I. Observations and models
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Basden A
(2014)
Real-time correlation reference update for astronomical adaptive optics
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jia P
(2015)
Real-time generation of atmospheric turbulence phase screen with non-uniform fast Fourier transform
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Barr D
(2015)
Reducing adaptive optics latency using Xeon Phi many-core processors
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gandhi P
(2013)
REFLECTION-DOMINATED NUCLEAR X-RAY EMISSION IN THE EARLY-TYPE GALAXY ESO 565-G019
in The Astrophysical Journal
{H.~E.~S.~S.~Collaboration} And {Abramowski}, A. And {Aharonian}, F. And {Ait Benkhali}, F. And {Akhperjanian}, A.~G. And {Ang{\"u}ner}, E. And {Anton}, G. And {Backes}, M. And {Balenderan}, S. And {Balzer}, A. And Et Al.
(2014)
Search for extended {$\gamma$}-ray emission around AGN with H.E.S.S. and Fermi-LAT
in \aap
{H.E.S.S.~Collaboration} And {Abramowski}, A. And {Acero}, F. And {Aharonian}, F. And {Akhperjanian}, A.~G. And {Anton}, G. And {Balenderan}, S. And {Balzer}, A. And {Barnacka}, A. And {Becherini}, Y. And {Becker Tjus}, J. And {Bernl{\"o}hr}, K. And {Birsin}, E. And {Biteau}, J. And {Bochow}, A. And {Boisson}, C. And {Bolmont}, J. And {Bordas}, P. And {Brucker}, J. And {Brun}, F. And {Brun}, P. And {Bulik}, T. And {Carrigan}, S. And {Casanova}, S. And {Cerruti}, M. And {Chadwick}, P.~M. And {Ch
(2013)
Search for very-high-energy {$\gamma$}-ray emission from Galactic globular clusters with H.E.S.S.
in \aap
Basden A
(2015)
Sensitivity improvements for Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors using total variation minimization
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jia P
(2015)
Simulation of atmospheric turbulence phase screen for large telescope and optical interferometer
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Shepherd H
(2014)
Stereo-SCIDAR: optical turbulence profiling with high sensitivity using a modified SCIDAR instrument
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jin C
(2015)
Strong constraints on a super-Eddington accretion flow: XMM-Newton observations of an intermediate-mass black hole
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Earnshaw H
(2020)
The (Re)appearance of NGC 925 ULX-3, a New Transient ULX
in The Astrophysical Journal
Earnshaw H
(2020)
The (re)appearance of NGC 925 ULX-3, a new transient ULX
Tomsick J
(2015)
THE ACCRETING BLACK HOLE SWIFT J1753.5-0127 FROM RADIO TO HARD X-RAY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Shidatsu M
(2013)
THE ACCRETION DISK AND IONIZED ABSORBER OF THE 9.7 hr DIPPING BLACK HOLE BINARY MAXI J1305-704
in The Astrophysical Journal
Soria R
(2019)
The discovery of weak coherent pulsations in the ultraluminous X-ray source NGC 1313 X-2
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Straub O
(2013)
The effect of advection at luminosities close to Eddington: The ULX in M 31
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Sutton A
(2015)
The hyperluminous X-ray source candidate in IC 4320: another HLX bites the dust
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hagino K
(2015)
The origin of ultrafast outflows in AGN: Monte Carlo simulations of the wind in PDS 456
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mezcua M
(2015)
The powerful jet of an off-nuclear intermediate-mass black hole in the spiral galaxy NGC 2276
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kolehmainen M
(2014)
The soft component and the iron line as signatures of the disc inner radius in Galactic black hole binaries
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Starling R
(2014)
The story of Seyfert galaxy RE J2248-511: from intriguingly ultrasoft to unremarkably average
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
D'Abrusco R
(2014)
THE TWO-DIMENSIONAL SPATIAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF THE GLOBULAR CLUSTERS AND LOW-MASS X-RAY BINARIES OF NGC 4649
in The Astrophysical Journal
Sutton A
(2013)
The ultraluminous state revisited: fractional variability and spectral shape as diagnostics of super-Eddington accretion
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Walton D
(2020)
The unusual broad-band X-ray spectral variability of NGC 1313 X-1 seen with XMM-Newton, Chandra , and NuSTAR
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Nebot Gómez-Morán A
(2013)
The XMM-Newton SSC survey of the Galactic plane
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Prestwich A
(2013)
ULTRA-LUMINOUS X-RAY SOURCES IN THE MOST METAL POOR GALAXIES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Föhring D
(2013)
ULTRACAM z'-band detection of the secondary eclipse of WASP-12b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Heida M
(2013)
VLT/FORS2 observations of four high-luminosity ULX candidates?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gardner E
(2014)
What powers the most relativistic jets? - I. BL Lacs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Basden A
(2014)
Wide-field adaptive optics performance in cosmological deep fields for multi-object spectroscopy with the European Extremely Large Telescope
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Walton D
(2013)
X-RAY OUTFLOWS AND SUPER-EDDINGTON ACCRETION IN THE ULTRALUMINOUS X-RAY SOURCE HOLMBERG IX X-1
in The Astrophysical Journal
Krawczynski H
(2016)
X-ray polarimetry with the Polarization Spectroscopic Telescope Array (PolSTAR)
in Astroparticle Physics
Sutton A
(2015)
X-RAY SPECTRAL RESIDUALS IN NGC 5408 X-1: DIFFUSE EMISSION FROM STAR FORMATION, OR THE SIGNATURE OF A SUPER-EDDINGTON WIND?
in The Astrophysical Journal
Alston W
(2014)
X-ray time delays in the narrow line Seyfert 1 galaxy PG 1244+026
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| Description | This bridging award enabled a continued programme of underpinning research in 4 key areas of (i) adaptive optics, (ii) atmospheric characterisation, (iii) real-time control systems, (iv) 3D imaging and spectroscopy. One area research programme on freeform optics manufacture was not supported. Key findings are listed in the publications (especially SPIE) associated with this grant. |
| Exploitation Route | The outcomes of this award fed directly into a continuing programme of technology development funded as part of our first Consolidated Grant. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine |