Astrophysics Research at Liverpool John Moores University: Newly Appointed Academic Staff
Lead Research Organisation:
Liverpool John Moores University
Department Name: Astrophysics Research Institute
Abstract
This grant will allow six new academic staff, recently employed in the Astrophysics Research Institute, to carry out their World-leading research as they settle into their new academic environment in Liverpool. The areas of interest of these new staff broadly align with the existing scientific strengths of the ARI, namely: the origin of stars; the chemical composition of galaxies; observational and theoretical studies of the Milky Way; large cosmological hydrodynamical simulations of galaxy clusters; theoretical studies to determine the physical properties of supernovae.
Under the heading of the origin of stars, we will investigate how the initial masses of stars forming in the Galaxy change with environment. Observations of the gas in giant star-forming regions will be used to determine key physical properties on scales close to the size of individual stars.
We will carry out a major spectroscopic survey of nearly 1 million stars in the disc and bulge of the Milky Way. This major legacy survey (APOGEE) and its successor (APOGEE-2), partly supported by the Sloan Foundation, will have major impact on questions such as: the chemical composition of the disc and bulge regions of the galaxy; the origin of globular clusters and whether there is evidence for the very first generation (population III) stars. We will also carry out cosmological hydrodynamic simulations of the Milky Way on supercomputers to provide well-matched and high resolution predictions of the merger history of the galaxy to compare with the observations from the forthcoming Gaia satellite mission, which will provide a 3D map of the Milky Way.
Our extragalactic chemical composition work focuses on a new technique, using Red Supergiant Stars, to measure the element abundances in nearby galaxies. By examining physical relationships, such as the correlation between a galaxy's central mass and metallicity, or the abundance gradients within galaxies, we will make important insights into the processes of galaxy formation and evolution.
On the largest scales we will carry out cosmological simulations of galaxy clusters, including all known feedback mechanisms, in order to provide representative samples of mock clusters. Simulation results will be incorporated into real observations from on-going cluster surveys at different wavelengths (including the XMM-Cluster Survey, in which the ARI is heavily involved) in order to make unbiased estimates of the cosmological parameters and physical conditions in the clusters.
We will investigate the outburst properties of supernovae using data from large on-going transient surveys and explore the relationship between the properties of the SN and its progenitor, as well as searching for new types of transients. In particular we will examine a large population of type SN Ia supernovae and study "extreme" events which violate normal behaviour in order to improve their use as cosmological distance indicators.
All of our research uses the most advanced ground-based telescopes, satellites and data analysis techniques to carry out observations, including telescope time on newly commissioned facilities such as ALMA and the KMOS multi-object spectrograph on the VLT, along with space missions such as Gaia. The new staff lead programmes at the international level, which are also technically demanding and feed into the design and operation of the next generation of telescopes and their instruments, such as the E-ELT (EAGLE/EVE), Liverpool Telescope and WHT (WEAVE).
Under the heading of the origin of stars, we will investigate how the initial masses of stars forming in the Galaxy change with environment. Observations of the gas in giant star-forming regions will be used to determine key physical properties on scales close to the size of individual stars.
We will carry out a major spectroscopic survey of nearly 1 million stars in the disc and bulge of the Milky Way. This major legacy survey (APOGEE) and its successor (APOGEE-2), partly supported by the Sloan Foundation, will have major impact on questions such as: the chemical composition of the disc and bulge regions of the galaxy; the origin of globular clusters and whether there is evidence for the very first generation (population III) stars. We will also carry out cosmological hydrodynamic simulations of the Milky Way on supercomputers to provide well-matched and high resolution predictions of the merger history of the galaxy to compare with the observations from the forthcoming Gaia satellite mission, which will provide a 3D map of the Milky Way.
Our extragalactic chemical composition work focuses on a new technique, using Red Supergiant Stars, to measure the element abundances in nearby galaxies. By examining physical relationships, such as the correlation between a galaxy's central mass and metallicity, or the abundance gradients within galaxies, we will make important insights into the processes of galaxy formation and evolution.
On the largest scales we will carry out cosmological simulations of galaxy clusters, including all known feedback mechanisms, in order to provide representative samples of mock clusters. Simulation results will be incorporated into real observations from on-going cluster surveys at different wavelengths (including the XMM-Cluster Survey, in which the ARI is heavily involved) in order to make unbiased estimates of the cosmological parameters and physical conditions in the clusters.
We will investigate the outburst properties of supernovae using data from large on-going transient surveys and explore the relationship between the properties of the SN and its progenitor, as well as searching for new types of transients. In particular we will examine a large population of type SN Ia supernovae and study "extreme" events which violate normal behaviour in order to improve their use as cosmological distance indicators.
All of our research uses the most advanced ground-based telescopes, satellites and data analysis techniques to carry out observations, including telescope time on newly commissioned facilities such as ALMA and the KMOS multi-object spectrograph on the VLT, along with space missions such as Gaia. The new staff lead programmes at the international level, which are also technically demanding and feed into the design and operation of the next generation of telescopes and their instruments, such as the E-ELT (EAGLE/EVE), Liverpool Telescope and WHT (WEAVE).
Planned Impact
The major form of impact arising from additional funds to our current Consolidated Grant, will come from existing activities described in more detail in the Pathways to Impact document. These will benefit schools, amateur astronomers and the general public.
At a University level, the Research Support Office have recently launched the LJMU Research Café - a series of informal, cross-cutting research seminars which will be held monthly in one of the University's Learning Resource Centres. At each event four researchers will present their research to a mixed audience from across the University in a series of short presentations. Sessions will not be themed as the intention is to support a varied programme enabling the audience to engage with the rich variety of research which takes place across the University and for presenters to disseminate their research to a broader audience.
In addition, through activities initiated within the ARI, there will be other more traditional forms of public engagement growing from our research. In particular we would anticipate a number of talks, panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions relating to our research. These will vary with respect to audience: schools (from primary upwards), amateur astronomy societies, lecture societies, WI etc. We will also showcase the new research at events organised by the ARI (such as the annual Merseyside Astronomy Day) and, where appropriate, at the Spaceport visitor centre.
In all cases the benefits will be twofold. Obviously, an exposure to current research can stimulate inquiry and interest in any audience. However, a less obvious, but perhaps more important benefit is to use that stimulation to promote an appreciation of science as a whole. This is particularly important for engagement with schools where astronomy has a vital role to play in promoting science and other STEM subjects as potential careers.
In order to facilitate this, younger and less experienced researchers (especially PDRAs and PhD students) are encouraged to present their research to a variety of audiences, with training and support provided by the experienced Outreach team within the ARI.
We will also work with non-science organisations to find ways in which the research can be used to enhance their own work. This sort of impact is difficult to predict in advance, as it is usually opportunistic, but past examples in the ARI have involved work with arts organisations and artists (including musicians, theatre companies, street theatre performers, sculptors, photographers and writers) and organisations that promote access to education (such as Aim Higher).
At a University level, the Research Support Office have recently launched the LJMU Research Café - a series of informal, cross-cutting research seminars which will be held monthly in one of the University's Learning Resource Centres. At each event four researchers will present their research to a mixed audience from across the University in a series of short presentations. Sessions will not be themed as the intention is to support a varied programme enabling the audience to engage with the rich variety of research which takes place across the University and for presenters to disseminate their research to a broader audience.
In addition, through activities initiated within the ARI, there will be other more traditional forms of public engagement growing from our research. In particular we would anticipate a number of talks, panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions relating to our research. These will vary with respect to audience: schools (from primary upwards), amateur astronomy societies, lecture societies, WI etc. We will also showcase the new research at events organised by the ARI (such as the annual Merseyside Astronomy Day) and, where appropriate, at the Spaceport visitor centre.
In all cases the benefits will be twofold. Obviously, an exposure to current research can stimulate inquiry and interest in any audience. However, a less obvious, but perhaps more important benefit is to use that stimulation to promote an appreciation of science as a whole. This is particularly important for engagement with schools where astronomy has a vital role to play in promoting science and other STEM subjects as potential careers.
In order to facilitate this, younger and less experienced researchers (especially PDRAs and PhD students) are encouraged to present their research to a variety of audiences, with training and support provided by the experienced Outreach team within the ARI.
We will also work with non-science organisations to find ways in which the research can be used to enhance their own work. This sort of impact is difficult to predict in advance, as it is usually opportunistic, but past examples in the ARI have involved work with arts organisations and artists (including musicians, theatre companies, street theatre performers, sculptors, photographers and writers) and organisations that promote access to education (such as Aim Higher).
Publications
Davies B
(2018)
The initial masses of the red supergiant progenitors to Type II supernovae
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ginsburg A.
(2018)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: mm point sources in the extended Sgr B2 cloud (Ginsburg+, 2018)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Jeffreson S
(2018)
On the physical mechanisms governing the cloud lifecycle in the Central Molecular Zone of the Milky Way
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Longmore Steven
(2018)
A review on the distribution of gas and young stars in the inner 500 pc of the Galaxy
in 42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly
Prentice S. J.
(2018)
Investigating the properties of stripped-envelope supernovae; what are the implications for their progenitors?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kann D
(2018)
The optical/NIR afterglow of GRB 111209A: Complex yet not unprecedented
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bono G.
(2018)
unVEil the darknesS of The gAlactic buLgE (VESTALE)
in arXiv e-prints
Hidalgo S
(2018)
The Updated BaSTI Stellar Evolution Models and Isochrones. I. Solar-scaled Calculations
in The Astrophysical Journal
Dey L
(2018)
Authenticating the Presence of a Relativistic Massive Black Hole Binary in OJ 287 Using Its General Relativity Centenary Flare: Improved Orbital Parameters
in The Astrophysical Journal
Csengeri T
(2018)
Search for high-mass protostars with ALMA revealed up to kilo-parsec scales (SPARKS) I. Indication for a centrifugal barrier in the environment of a single high-mass envelope
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Beuther H
(2018)
Fragmentation and disk formation during high-mass star formation IRAM NOEMA (Northern Extended Millimeter Array) large program CORE
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Henze M.
(2018)
Recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a: Swift UVOT detection of the 2018 eruption
in The Astronomer's Telegram
Tartaglia L.
(2018)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: Optical and NIR spectra and LCs of SN2016ija (Tartaglia+, 2018)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Hygate Alexander P. S.
(2018)
An uncertainty principle for star formation - IV. On the nature and filtering of diffuse emission
in arXiv e-prints
Saracino S
(2018)
On the Use of the Main-sequence Knee (Saddle) to Measure Globular Cluster Ages
in The Astrophysical Journal
Lardo C
(2018)
Chemical inhomogeneities amongst first population stars in globular clusters Evidence for He variations
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hogge T
(2018)
The Radio Ammonia Mid-plane Survey (RAMPS) Pilot Survey
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Upsdell E. W.
(2018)
The Spectroscopic Classification of Seven Cataclysmic Variables with the Liverpool Telescope
in Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society
Haydon Daniel T.
(2018)
An uncertainty principle for star formation - III. The characteristic emission time-scales of star formation rate tracers
in arXiv e-prints
Stanek K. Z.
(2018)
ASAS-SN Transient Discovery Report for 2018-11-09
in Transient Name Server Discovery Report
De K
(2018)
A hot and fast ultra-stripped supernova that likely formed a compact neutron star binary.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Salaris Maurizio
(2018)
Uncertainties in Evolutionary Models of Classical Pulsators
in The RR Lyrae 2017 Conference. Revival of the Classical Pulsators: from Galactic Structure to Stellar Interior Diagnostics
Brimacombe J.
(2018)
Discovery of 9 ASAS-SN Supernovae
in The Astronomer's Telegram
Prasit A
(2018)
A comparison of SOFA and NOVAS astrometric software libraries
Salaris M
(2018)
A Gaia DR2 view of white dwarfs in the Hyades
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Description | Discoveries about evolution of stars, galaxies and clusters of galaxies, dark matter and dark energy. Total publication output due to new staff and associated new collaborations rose from 100 p.a. to 200 p.a. - doubling our research productivity. Over the same period research income grew from £5m to over £11m. |
Exploitation Route | Further research into unsolved problems in astrophysics. This award led to successful integration of newly appointed staff into the Consolidated submissions in 2015 and 2018. One newly appointed staff Co-I (Steve Longmore) started the Astro-ecology group at ARI. The ARI's AE project combining infrared astronomical instrumentation expertise with drone technology is impacting the way conservation agencies around the world (e.g. WWF) conduct animal surveys. The thermal-drone enables safe, routine, efficient and cost-effective monitoring and management of animal populations over large and inhospitable areas, with a factor of up to 200x increase in survey efficiency over existing methods. This provides conservation agencies greatly improved data needed to quantify and mitigate biodiversity loss. The thermal drone system is being used routinely to help local fire-fighting teams to find/extinguish annual peat fires in Indonesia which are a major contributor to anthropogenic CO2 emissions. The orders of magnitude improvement in fire extinction efficiency the system offers over existing methods will hopefully lead to substantial reduction in CO2 emissions -- a leading cause of climate change. the amount of income generated for this project has now (Feb 2020) exceeded £1.5m. |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Education Environment Security and Diplomacy |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk |
Description | Many outreach activities across all sectors, e.g. Schools, public, policy makers, flower shows. Across discipline funding for astro-ecology using 10 micron cameras on drones flown over conservation areas (Nepal, Africa, Australia) to help preservation of endangered species. Findings are disseminated in astronomical literature and through public events and schools through the National Schools' Observatory. Partly as a result of this grant NSO now has 3,000 registered schools and delivered 140,000 observations to classrooms. We carry out a range of outreach activities visiting schools, astronomical societies and social groups. We also carry out special exhibitions and events at national venues including Tate Liverpool; FACT; the Science Museum London; the London Design Biennale at Somerset House. These have showcased ARI and LJMU research to a total estimated audience in excess of 50,000. Two of our Outreach staff have fEC awards to carry out impact for two funded projects on our renewed Consolidated Grant 2018-21. Under the directorship of Professor Steve Longmore, ARI has developed a major new research area connected to environmental impact, "Astro-ecology". Longmore and team are working with conservation agencies worldwide (e.g. WWF; Endangered Wildlife Trust; Wetland Wildlife trust; National Geographic; Borneo Nature Foundation; Indonesia National Parks; Chester Zoo; Knowsley Safari Park; Morecambe Bay Search and Rescue; several universities), flying infrared instrumentation developed for astronomical purposes on drones. Applications include: animal conservation in rain forests; peat fire detection in Indonesia and human rescue at sea. Starting with an internal LJMU startup award of £25k in 2016, this work has attracted more than £1.5m of external funding (as of Feb 2020) principally through STFC/GCRF grant awards. |
First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Environment,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Security and Diplomacy,Other |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |
Description | Astro-ecology with drones (2015-2020) |
Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | The ARI's project combining infrared astronomical instrumentation expertise with drone technology is impacting the way conservation agencies around the world (e.g. WWF) conduct animal surveys. The thermal-drone enables safe, routine, efficient and cost-effective monitoring and management of animal populations over large and inhospitable areas, with a factor of up to 200x increase in survey efficiency over existing methods. This provides conservation agencies greatly improved data needed to quantify and mitigate biodiversity loss. The thermal drone system is being used routinely to help local fire-fighting teams to find/extinguish annual peat fires in Indonesia which are a major contributor to anthropogenic CO2 emissions. The orders of magnitude improvement in fire extinction efficiency the system offers over existing methods will hopefully lead to substantial reduction in CO2 emissions -- a leading cause of climate change. |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk |
Description | NSO Presentation in House of Commons |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Description | Astro-ecology: the solution from the skies to save Earth's biodiversity |
Amount | £411,988 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/R002673/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2018 |
End | 12/2021 |
Description | CO2 emission from peat fires in Indonesia |
Amount | £450,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/S00288X/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 03/2022 |
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 | 03/2018 |
End | 03/2021 |
Description | ERC Consolidator Award |
Amount | £1,500,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | EU-T0 |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 05/2018 |
End | 05/2023 |
Description | STFC Consolidated Grant Renewal |
Amount | £1,200,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/M000966/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2015 |
End | 03/2018 |
Description | The next generation of holistic galaxy formation simulations at LJMU |
Amount | £37,942 (GBP) |
Funding ID | RGF/EA/180162 |
Organisation | Liverpool John Moores University |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2017 |
End | 10/2020 |
Description | Astro-ecology |
Organisation | World Wide Fund for Nature |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Various conservation agencies, e.g. WWF worldwide. |
Collaborator Contribution | Development of drone technology and IR data reduction techniques for various applications: rare animal species (rhino, lemur, orangutang etc..), peat fires in Indonesia; RNLI search and rescue |
Impact | Listed in publications |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | International Research Collaboration 2015-2021 |
Organisation | California Institute of Technology |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The New Applicants Award and subsequent consolidated grants in 2015 and 2018 led to many international collaborations, for example: Harvard - Star Formation and PhD Exchange Programme. Caltech - supernovae and (iPTF/ZTF) transient surveys Virgo consortium membership in Cosmological Simulations - High Performance Computing SLOAN Digitised Survey - IV: UK Participation membership. Virgo-Ligo GW electromagnetic followup MPE, MPA Munch, Penn State, University of Tokyo, IAC Tenerife, and partners in the UK. |
Collaborator Contribution | Partners contribute through refereed papers (ARI publishes 200 p.a.) |
Impact | More than 200 refereed papers p.a. and £12m of external grant income. |
Start Year | 2015 |
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 | Exhibitions at national venues |
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 | Special exhibitions and events at national venues including: Tate Liverpool, Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (FACT), the Science Museum, the London Design Biennale at Somerset House. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019 |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/ |
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 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The NSO has 3,000 registered schools. More than 100,000 discrete observations with the LT have been returned to schools for projects within the classroom. Full evaluation of the impact of the NSO is currently underway. Two of the NSO staff team now have FeC on our renewed Consolidated Grant (2018-2021) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019 |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/ |
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 | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Local Schools, Exhibitions (Tate Liverpool, Chelsea Flower Show (audience 200 million) ; FACT; London Design Biennale |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020 |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/ |