UCL Astrophysics Consolidated Grant 2015-2018
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
We now know that not only is our Universe expanding, but that it is expanding at an ever-increasing rate. Fuelled by a mysterious driver
called Dark Energy, galaxies, such as our Milky Way, are rushing away from each other at such enormous acceleration that not even the powerful
force of gravity can hold the universe together.
Researchers in UCL's Astrophysics Group are putting to the test these discoveries with an ambitious programme of research for the coming years.
A map of 300 million galaxies that astronomers will put together using the Dark Energy Survey over the next decade will be combined with a new chart of the Cosmic Microwave Background from the Planck satellite to understand the conditions in the early universe, to detect the tiny mass of the Neutrino particle and to test Einstein's theory of general Relativity on the largest scales. Our astronomers will use the LOFAR radio telescope to study the era long ago when the first stars and galaxies formed and sculpted ionized bubbles within the gas that permeated the Universe.
We will probe how stars form from vast gas and dust clouds and how the chemistry that goes on between the stars affects and controls these
crucial processes, by studying molecules and dust in our own Galaxy, in nearby galaxies, and in distant, very young, galaxies located at the edge
of the Universe.
We will study the lives of massive stars and their deaths in giant explosions called supernovae and how these massive stars enrich the Galaxy
with the gas and dust required to make new stars, new planets and even life itself.
None of this can be done unless astronomers continually improve the instruments with which they carry out their studies of the heavens. UCL's
instrument makers are aiming to create lower cost optics for future infrared telescopes in space and to develop sophisticated new techniques
that can be used to deliver incredibly high angular resolutions on space telescopes observing at infrared wavelengths.
Astronomers need to model the universe that they study with ever more complex mathematical techniques. So UCL's computer experts will generate the sophisticated models, running on supercomputers, that are needed to understand the wealth of observations that are pouring in. They will also generate the basic atomic and molecular data with which to simulate the conditions in the early Universe, in evolving galaxies and in the stars and planetary systems that inhabit the galaxies. These new data will be used in particular to interpret and understand observations of the atmospheres of exoplanets as they pass in front of, and behind, the stars that they orbit.
But all of this will be wasted unless our fellow citizens get to share in the wonder and excitement of our group's work. So we will ensure that our
team members continue to explain their work through talks and lectures, through public events, and through the media, inspiring the next
generation of scientists, helping and challenging industry to develop new technologies, and ensuring that our understanding of the Universe becomes ever deeper and wider.
called Dark Energy, galaxies, such as our Milky Way, are rushing away from each other at such enormous acceleration that not even the powerful
force of gravity can hold the universe together.
Researchers in UCL's Astrophysics Group are putting to the test these discoveries with an ambitious programme of research for the coming years.
A map of 300 million galaxies that astronomers will put together using the Dark Energy Survey over the next decade will be combined with a new chart of the Cosmic Microwave Background from the Planck satellite to understand the conditions in the early universe, to detect the tiny mass of the Neutrino particle and to test Einstein's theory of general Relativity on the largest scales. Our astronomers will use the LOFAR radio telescope to study the era long ago when the first stars and galaxies formed and sculpted ionized bubbles within the gas that permeated the Universe.
We will probe how stars form from vast gas and dust clouds and how the chemistry that goes on between the stars affects and controls these
crucial processes, by studying molecules and dust in our own Galaxy, in nearby galaxies, and in distant, very young, galaxies located at the edge
of the Universe.
We will study the lives of massive stars and their deaths in giant explosions called supernovae and how these massive stars enrich the Galaxy
with the gas and dust required to make new stars, new planets and even life itself.
None of this can be done unless astronomers continually improve the instruments with which they carry out their studies of the heavens. UCL's
instrument makers are aiming to create lower cost optics for future infrared telescopes in space and to develop sophisticated new techniques
that can be used to deliver incredibly high angular resolutions on space telescopes observing at infrared wavelengths.
Astronomers need to model the universe that they study with ever more complex mathematical techniques. So UCL's computer experts will generate the sophisticated models, running on supercomputers, that are needed to understand the wealth of observations that are pouring in. They will also generate the basic atomic and molecular data with which to simulate the conditions in the early Universe, in evolving galaxies and in the stars and planetary systems that inhabit the galaxies. These new data will be used in particular to interpret and understand observations of the atmospheres of exoplanets as they pass in front of, and behind, the stars that they orbit.
But all of this will be wasted unless our fellow citizens get to share in the wonder and excitement of our group's work. So we will ensure that our
team members continue to explain their work through talks and lectures, through public events, and through the media, inspiring the next
generation of scientists, helping and challenging industry to develop new technologies, and ensuring that our understanding of the Universe becomes ever deeper and wider.
Planned Impact
Our Group will continue and develop its current Knowledge Exchange and Outreach programmes, which are described in detail in our 2-page Pathways to Impact document.
For Knowledge Exchange, we will have the professional support of UCL Business (for IP support) and UCL Enterprise (for entrepreneurship training, mentorship and access to venture capital). The transfer of the results of our innovation is being achieved as follows:
(i) By providing accurate and complete molecular data to Industry and to researchers in other fields - this has proved particularly successful with our water and methane line lists, which are extensively used by industry and by modellers of Earth's atmosphere and climate. Current and future applications include the design of high temperature gas sensors; modelling non-thermal rotational distributions of H3+ in storage rings; measuring the refractive index of humid air in the IR; high speed thermometry and tomographic imaging in gas engines; and of course atmospheric models.
(ii) By working through OSL's three main technology transfer firms, Zeeko, OPTICS Glyndyr, through which research level optical design and manufacturing processes are transferred to Industry. They work closely with Industry to establish the link between detailed surface topography and functional performance in order to improve performance or reduce cost, or both. Examples include the semiconductor sector (polishing of large-area display components; the transition to photolithography in the EUV), the defence sector (advanced weapons and surveillance sites; imaging systems for UAVs, head-up displays),
light-weight optics for remote sensing, the high-power laser community (including laser-fusion) and the automobile sector (use of head-up displays in cars).
(iii) By working with commerce, research design labs and other academic areas to produce new technologies, e.g. by enagaging with the new Satellite Applications Catapult on the compact LOw Cost Upper atmosphere Sounder
(LOCUS), which promises to transform the economics of Earth observation missions and provide a cost effective method of monitoring long term trends in the climate.
(iv) By continuing to work with leading IT vendors to test and design new hardware and software solutions which will eventually end up in the marketplace. We are playing a leading role in setting up an Industrial Engagement Database that will connect DiRAC researchers with STFC Innovation and TSB funding calls, TSB Catapult Centre facilitated industrial projects,
and Industry-HEI/RC projects.
Our Outreach Programme will continue to build on its current strong foundations. These include www.ucl.ac.uk/youruniverse/ and www.ucl.ac.uk/star/outreach/themindofuniverse. We have a Work Experience Programme for 16-18-yr-olds and a programme of school visits that provides popular talks on a wide range of topics. Our ULO teaching observatory at Mill
Hill has a regular programme of public open evenings, as well as daytime schools visits, bringing several thousand visitors annually, with a tie-in with the BBC's Stargazing Live. We will continue to draw upon the professional support of the UCL Public Engagement Unit, www.ucl.ac.uk/public-engagement, both in terms of training and access to award-winning events such as 'Science Show-Off' and 'Bright Club'.
We have attracted extensive international media coverage for the discovery at our ULO Observatory of a bright supernova in the nearby M82 galaxy, the closest Type Ia supernova in over 40 years, and for press releases linked to Science and Nature papers on supernova dust and molecules, and on young galaxies at the edge of the Universe, as well as for ESA press releases on Planck results featuring UCL researchers. We will continue our prominent programme of media appearances, talks and podcasts. In engaging with the press, we will continue to have strong support from the MAPS and UCL Communications and Media Relations units.
For Knowledge Exchange, we will have the professional support of UCL Business (for IP support) and UCL Enterprise (for entrepreneurship training, mentorship and access to venture capital). The transfer of the results of our innovation is being achieved as follows:
(i) By providing accurate and complete molecular data to Industry and to researchers in other fields - this has proved particularly successful with our water and methane line lists, which are extensively used by industry and by modellers of Earth's atmosphere and climate. Current and future applications include the design of high temperature gas sensors; modelling non-thermal rotational distributions of H3+ in storage rings; measuring the refractive index of humid air in the IR; high speed thermometry and tomographic imaging in gas engines; and of course atmospheric models.
(ii) By working through OSL's three main technology transfer firms, Zeeko, OPTICS Glyndyr, through which research level optical design and manufacturing processes are transferred to Industry. They work closely with Industry to establish the link between detailed surface topography and functional performance in order to improve performance or reduce cost, or both. Examples include the semiconductor sector (polishing of large-area display components; the transition to photolithography in the EUV), the defence sector (advanced weapons and surveillance sites; imaging systems for UAVs, head-up displays),
light-weight optics for remote sensing, the high-power laser community (including laser-fusion) and the automobile sector (use of head-up displays in cars).
(iii) By working with commerce, research design labs and other academic areas to produce new technologies, e.g. by enagaging with the new Satellite Applications Catapult on the compact LOw Cost Upper atmosphere Sounder
(LOCUS), which promises to transform the economics of Earth observation missions and provide a cost effective method of monitoring long term trends in the climate.
(iv) By continuing to work with leading IT vendors to test and design new hardware and software solutions which will eventually end up in the marketplace. We are playing a leading role in setting up an Industrial Engagement Database that will connect DiRAC researchers with STFC Innovation and TSB funding calls, TSB Catapult Centre facilitated industrial projects,
and Industry-HEI/RC projects.
Our Outreach Programme will continue to build on its current strong foundations. These include www.ucl.ac.uk/youruniverse/ and www.ucl.ac.uk/star/outreach/themindofuniverse. We have a Work Experience Programme for 16-18-yr-olds and a programme of school visits that provides popular talks on a wide range of topics. Our ULO teaching observatory at Mill
Hill has a regular programme of public open evenings, as well as daytime schools visits, bringing several thousand visitors annually, with a tie-in with the BBC's Stargazing Live. We will continue to draw upon the professional support of the UCL Public Engagement Unit, www.ucl.ac.uk/public-engagement, both in terms of training and access to award-winning events such as 'Science Show-Off' and 'Bright Club'.
We have attracted extensive international media coverage for the discovery at our ULO Observatory of a bright supernova in the nearby M82 galaxy, the closest Type Ia supernova in over 40 years, and for press releases linked to Science and Nature papers on supernova dust and molecules, and on young galaxies at the edge of the Universe, as well as for ESA press releases on Planck results featuring UCL researchers. We will continue our prominent programme of media appearances, talks and podcasts. In engaging with the press, we will continue to have strong support from the MAPS and UCL Communications and Media Relations units.
Organisations
Publications
Shuo Huang
(2016)
OPTIMIZING REMOTE PLASMA SOURCES FOR SELECTIVE ETCHING
in 2016 43RD IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PLASMA SCIENCE (ICOPS)
Joshua Max
(2018)
Twinkle - a low-Earth orbit visible and infrared exoplanet spectroscopy observatory
in 42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly
Tsiaras Angelos
(2017)
A population study of hot Jupiter atmospheres
in AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #49
Tennyson Jonathan
(2018)
Calculating accurate spectra for the terrestrial and hot atmospheres
in ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
Tennyson Jonathan
(2015)
Molecular line lists of carbon-containing molecules for exoplanets and other hot bodies
in ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
Tennyson Jonathan
(2018)
The ExoMol atlas of cool star and exoplanet molecular opacities
in ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
Rawlings J
(2019)
Formation of COMs in Explosions-and Their Destruction
in ACS Earth and Space Chemistry
Fritz Jacopo
(2016)
The heating of diffuse dust at large scale in AGNs: a radiative transfer model study
in Active Galactic Nuclei: What's in a Name?
Achilleos N. A.
(2016)
Model Predictions and Ground-based Observations for Jupiter's Magnetospheric Environment: Application to the JUICE and Juno Missions
in AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
Campbell Ashton Peter
(2017)
The First Observation of the Submillimeter Polarization Spectrum in a Low-A
V Molecular Cloud
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #229
McClure Melissa K.
(2018)
The IceAge ERS Program: Probing Building blocks of Life During the JWST Era
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #232
Manning Sinclaire
(2019)
Radio Morphologies of Dust Obscured Starbursts in the SuperCLASS Field
in American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #233
Group S
(2018)
Cosmology with Phase 1 of the Square Kilometre Array; Red Book 2018: Technical specifications and performance forecasts
in arXiv e-prints
Hoormann J. K.
(2019)
CIV Black Hole Mass Measurements with the Australian Dark Energy Survey (OzDES)
in arXiv e-prints
Varga T. N.
(2018)
Dark Energy Survey Year 1 results: Validation of weak lensing cluster member contamination estimates from P(z) decomposition
in arXiv e-prints
Wang Mei-Yu
(2019)
Rediscovery of the Sixth Star Cluster in the Fornax Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy
in arXiv e-prints
Mangilli A.
(2018)
PILOT balloon-borne experiment in-flight performance
in arXiv e-prints
Ritacco A.
(2016)
NIKA 2: next-generation continuum/polarized camera at the IRAM 30 m telescope and its prototype
in ArXiv e-prints
Yurchenko Sergei N.
(2018)
ExoCross: a general program for generating spectra from molecular line lists
in ArXiv e-prints
Hinton S. R.
(2018)
Steve: A hierarchical Bayesian model for Supernova Cosmology
in arXiv e-prints
Farrah Duncan
(2017)
Review: Far-Infrared Instrumentation and Technology Development for the Next Decade
in arXiv e-prints
Collaboration T
(2017)
The EBEX Balloon Borne Experiment - Optics, Receiver, and Polarimetry
in ArXiv e-prints
Courbin F.
(2017)
COSMOGRAIL XVI: Time delays for the quadruply imaged quasar DES J0408-5354 with high-cadence photometric monitoring
in arXiv e-prints
Albacete Colombo J. F.
(2018)
Diffuse X-ray emission in the Cygnus OB2 association
in arXiv e-prints
Ashton Peter C.
(2017)
First Observation of the Submillimeter Polarization Spectrum in a Translucent Molecular Cloud
in ArXiv e-prints
Zhang Y.
(2018)
Dark Energy Survey Year 1 results: Detection of Intra-cluster Light at Redshift $\sim$ 0.25
in arXiv e-prints
Tsiaras A.
(2017)
A population study of hot Jupiter atmospheres
in ArXiv e-prints
Tang Mengyao
(2018)
The properties of Planck Galactic cold clumps in the L1495 dark cloud
in ArXiv e-prints
Tabatabaei F. S.
(2016)
The Radio Spectral Energy Distribution and Star Formation Rate Calibration in Galaxies
in ArXiv e-prints
Rawlings Jonathan M. C.
(2019)
A gas-phase primordial origin of O2 in comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
in arXiv e-prints
De Jong R. S.
(2019)
4MOST: Project overview and information for the First Call for Proposals
in arXiv e-prints
Punanova Anna
(2018)
Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS). III. Zooming into the methanol peak of the pre-stellar core L1544
in ArXiv e-prints
Chluba J.
(2019)
Spectral Distortions of the CMB as a Probe of Inflation, Recombination, Structure Formation and Particle Physics
in arXiv e-prints
Chubb Katy L.
(2017)
MARVEL analysis of the measured high-resolution rovibrational spectra of C2H2
in ArXiv e-prints
Brout D.
(2018)
First Cosmology Results Using Type Ia Supernovae From the Dark Energy Survey: Analysis, Systematic Uncertainties, and Validation
in arXiv e-prints
Samuroff S.
(2018)
Dark Energy Survey Year 1 Results: Constraints on Intrinsic Alignments and their Colour Dependence from Galaxy Clustering and Weak Lensing
in arXiv e-prints
Loureiro Arthur
(2018)
On The Upper Bound of Neutrino Masses from Combined Cosmological Observations and Particle Physics Experiments
in arXiv e-prints
Marshall J. L.
(2018)
Chemical Abundance Analysis of Tucana III, the Second $r$-process Enhanced Ultra-Faint Dwarf Galaxy
in arXiv e-prints
Johnston Harry
(2018)
KiDS+GAMA: Intrinsic alignment model constraints for current and future weak lensing cosmology
in arXiv e-prints
Hildebrandt H.
(2018)
KiDS+VIKING-450: Cosmic shear tomography with optical+infrared data
in arXiv e-prints
Doctor Z.
(2018)
A Search for Optical Emission from Binary-Black-Hole Merger GW170814 with the Dark Energy Camera
in arXiv e-prints
Morford J. C.
(2020)
COBRaS: The e-MERLIN 21 cm Legacy survey of Cygnus OB2
in arXiv e-prints
Bagnulo S.
(2020)
A search for strong magnetic fields in massive and very massive stars in the Magellanic Clouds
in arXiv e-prints
Yu Zhefu
(2018)
Quasar Accretion Disk Sizes from Continuum Reverberation Mapping in the DES Standard Star Fields
in arXiv e-prints
Rutkowski Lucile
(2017)
An experimental water line list at 1950 K in the 6250 -- 6670 \cm\ region
in ArXiv e-prints
Fissel Laura M.
(2018)
Relative Alignment Between the Magnetic Field and Molecular Gas Structure in the Vela C Giant Molecular Cloud using Low and High Density Tracers
in arXiv e-prints
Shin T.
(2018)
Measurement of the Splashback Feature around SZ-selected Galaxy Clusters with DES, SPT and ACT
in arXiv e-prints
Ge J. X.
(2019)
Three dimensional projection effects on chemistry in a Planck galactic cold clump
in arXiv e-prints
Wang Jia-Wei
(2018)
JCMT BISTRO survey: Magnetic Fields within the Hub-Filament Structure in IC 5146
in arXiv e-prints
Description | Since its inception in April 2015, this grant had produced 850 publications as of March 3rd 2020. The papers cover a large range of science, given that this is a Consolidated Grant having seven different funded projects. The Dark Energy Survey has completed a significant fraction of its survey and has produced a large number of papers which are reflected in the total output of papers for this grant. Large numbers of papers on Herschel and Planck results continue to be published by us, as well as papers on stellar, circumstellar and supernova physics, on astrochemistry and star formation, on molecular data for exoplanet studies, and on astronomical instrumentation studies. |
Exploitation Route | The results will and have been used to influence the future research carried out by ourselves and other astrophysicists. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
URL | https://www.darkenergysurvey.org/news-and-results/press-releases/ |
Description | The Group conducts activities intending to reach out to the public and private sectors and we have collaborations that are leading to technological, scientific or commercial developments, e.g. Tennyson's Exomol programme has established links with Technical University of Denmark and Servomex plc, who use linelist data to model spectra of gas emissions at the top of smokestacks for environmental monitoring. Exomol data also contributes to atmospheric and climate models; Viti has a collaboration with academic chemists to produce experimental and theoretical surface chemistry reaction rates; DES, Planck and Euclid projects are linked to multiple industrial contracts, some of which have UK industrial firms developing processes to meet instrument specifications. We have developed a very active Artists in Residence Programme: http://www.judygoldhill.com/ http://www.janegrisewood.com/ http://andycharalambous.com/ |
First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
Description | UCL Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science and Technologies |
Amount | £2,645,591 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/P006736/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2017 |
End | 09/2024 |
Title | Jovian and Kronian Magnetodisc Field and Guiding Centre Dynamics of Trapped Particles Data |
Description | Data files and basic Matlab visualisation functionality of Jovian and Kronian UCL magnetodisc model output and guiding centre dynamics of trapped particles data described in the JGR Space Physics paper 2020JA027827 Trapped Particle Motion In Magnetodisk Fields by Guio, P. and Staniland, N. and Achilleos, N. A. and Arridge, C. S.(https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JA027827) |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3749390 |
Title | Jovian and Kronian Magnetodisc Field and Guiding Centre Dynamics of Trapped Particles Data |
Description | Data files and basic Matlab visualisation functionality of Jovian and Kronian UCL magnetodisc model output and guiding centre dynamics of trapped particles data described in the JGR Space Physics paper 2020JA027827 Trapped Particle Motion In Magnetodisk Fields by Guio, P. and Staniland, N. and Achilleos, N. A. and Arridge, C. S.(https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JA027827) |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3749389 |
Title | Duo update |
Description | Duo is a general variational diiatomic molecule nuclear motion program. It has been updated to provide the inner region of an R-matrix treatment of ultra-low energy collisions. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | Calculations of ultra-low energy collisions: original test on Ar -- Ar |
URL | https://github.com/Trovemaster/Duo |
Title | ExoCross |
Description | A post processor for ExoMol (and HITRAN) data |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
Impact | This program is being widely used to post process ExoMol data |
URL | https://github.com/Trovemaster/exocross |
Title | TROVE |
Description | A new version of the code TROVE was developed which explicitly included the symmetry of methane. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2013 |
Impact | The production of linelists for methane and silane |
URL | https://github.com/Trovemaster/TROVE |
Description | The DESI First light was reported in October 2019 on BBC TV News at 10, BBC World Service and other media |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The DES First light was reported in October 2019 on BBC TV News at 10, BBC World Service and other media |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |