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
Diehl H
(2017)
The DES Bright Arcs Survey: Hundreds of Candidate Strongly Lensed Galaxy Systems from the Dark Energy Survey Science Verification and Year 1 Observations
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Diehl H. T.
(2017)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: Candidate strong lens systems from DES obs. (Diehl+, 2017)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Doctor Z
(2017)
A Search for Kilonovae in the Dark Energy Survey
in The Astrophysical Journal
Doctor Z.
(2018)
A Search for Optical Emission from Binary-Black-Hole Merger GW170814 with the Dark Energy Camera
in arXiv e-prints
Dohlen K
(2017)
The use of a cubesat to validate technological bricks in space
Dom
(2018)
Transfer learning for galaxy morphology from one survey to another
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Domínguez Sánchez H
(2019)
Transfer learning for galaxy morphology from one survey to another
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Drlica-Wagner A
(2015)
EIGHT ULTRA-FAINT GALAXY CANDIDATES DISCOVERED IN YEAR TWO OF THE DARK ENERGY SURVEY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Dunn William
(2018)
Involving School Students in Exoplanet Research Through the Twinkle Space Mission - ORBYTS
in European Planetary Science Congress
Dunstall P
(2015)
The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey XXII. Multiplicity properties of the B-type stars???
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Dunstall P. R.
(2015)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: VLTS. B stars multiplicity (Dunstall+, 2015)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
EBEX Collaboration EBEX
(2018)
The EBEX Balloon-borne Experiment-Optics, Receiver, and Polarimetry
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Eden D
(2019)
SCOPE: SCUBA-2 Continuum Observations of Pre-protostellar Evolution - survey description and compact source catalogue
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Eden D. J.
(2019)
SCOPE: SCUBA-2 Continuum Observations of Pre-protostellar Evolution - Survey Description and Compact Source Catalogue
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Edwards Billy
(2018)
Observing Solar System Bodies with Twinkle
in European Planetary Science Congress
Edwards Billy
(2018)
Exoplanet Spectra-photometry with Twinkle
in European Planetary Science Congress
Edwards Billy
(2018)
Exoplanet spectroscopy and photometry with the Twinkle space telescope
in Experimental Astronomy
Epée M
(2017)
Electron-${\mathrm{He}}_{2}^{+}$ scattering calculation using the R-matrix method: resonant and bound states of He 2
in Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Eriksen M
(2019)
The PAU Survey: early demonstration of photometric redshift performance in the COSMOS field
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Erkal D
(2018)
Modelling the Tucana III stream - a close passage with the LMC
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Etherington J
(2017)
Environmental dependence of the galaxy stellar mass function in the Dark Energy Survey Science Verification Data
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Evans C
(2015)
The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey XVIII. Classifications and radial velocities of the B-type stars?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Evans C. J.
(2015)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: VFTS. B-type stars classification and RV (Evans+, 2015)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Evans M
(2015)
Gravitational instabilities in a protosolar-like disc - I. Dynamics and chemistry
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Evans M
(2018)
Gravitational instabilities in a protosolar-like disc III: molecular line detection and sensitivities
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Evans M
(2017)
Gravitational instabilities in a protosolar-like disc - II. Continuum emission and mass estimates
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Farrah D
(2019)
Review: far-infrared instrumentation and technological development for the next decade
in Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems
Farrah Duncan
(2017)
Review: Far-Infrared Instrumentation and Technology Development for the Next Decade
in arXiv e-prints
Farrens Samuel
(2017)
SFoF: Friends-of-friends galaxy cluster detection algorithm
in Astrophysics Source Code Library
Faure A
(2017)
State-to-state chemistry and rotational excitation of CH+ in photon-dominated regions.
in Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fenech D
(2018)
An ALMA 3mm continuum census of Westerlund 1
Fenech D
(2017)
Non-thermal emission in Cyg OB2
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Fenech D
(2017)
ALMA observations of the supergiant B[e] star Wd1-9
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Fenech D
(2018)
An ALMA 3 mm continuum census of Westerlund 1
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Fenech Danielle Marie
(2015)
Non-Thermal Emission from the massive stellar association Cygnus OB2
in IAU General Assembly
Fenech Danielle Marie
(2015)
Peering into the heart of the M82 starburst: Type II supernova remnants and a possible relic GRB?
in IAU General Assembly
Fernández-Ontiveros J
(2017)
SPICA and the Chemical Evolution of Galaxies: The Rise of Metals and Dust
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
Fissel L
(2019)
Relative Alignment between the Magnetic Field and Molecular Gas Structure in the Vela C Giant Molecular Cloud Using Low- and High-density Tracers
in The Astrophysical Journal
Fissel L
(2016)
BALLOON-BORNE SUBMILLIMETER POLARIMETRY OF THE VELA C MOLECULAR CLOUD: SYSTEMATIC DEPENDENCE OF POLARIZATION FRACTION ON COLUMN DENSITY AND LOCAL POLARIZATION-ANGLE DISPERSION
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Flaugher B
(2015)
THE DARK ENERGY CAMERA
in The Astronomical Journal
Fontani F
(2017)
Seeds of Life in Space (SOLIS) I. Carbon-chain growth in the Solar-type protocluster OMC2-FIR4???
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
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?
Fulton T
(2016)
The data processing pipeline for the Herschel SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectrometer
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Furtenbacher T
(2020)
Empirical rovibrational energy levels of ammonia up to 7500 cm - 1
in Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer
Furtenbacher T
(2016)
EXPERIMENTAL ENERGY LEVELS AND PARTITION FUNCTION OF THE 12 C 2 MOLECULE
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Gandilo N
(2016)
SUBMILLIMETER POLARIZATION SPECTRUM IN THE VELA C MOLECULAR CLOUD
in The Astrophysical Journal
Garcia-Fernandez M.
(2018)
Weak lensing magnification in the Dark Energy Survey Science Verification data
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
García-Burillo S
(2017)
ALMA imaging of C 2 H emission in the disk of NGC 1068
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
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 |