A Programme of Astrophysics, Cosmology and Technology in Cardiff 2016-19
Lead Research Organisation:
Cardiff University
Department Name: School of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
We propose a programme of Astrophysics, Cosmology and Technology development for Astrophysics and Cosmology, to investigate star and planet formation in our own and other galaxies, and how galaxies form and evolve. This programme will combine observational data from world-class ground and space-based observatories, as well as theoretical modelling and simulations of the processes that result in the Universe we observe around us. We will also continue to develop the world's most sensitive detectors for very long infrared wavelengths, along with associated optical components utilising 'metamaterials' the class of materials designed and manufactured by human beings to have the properties best suited to their task, rather than relying on naturally occurring minerals and plastics. Both of these areas of technology development potentially have wide applications outside of Astronomy, in areas such as security scanners and bio-medical imaging for example. The technologies used for imaging can also be extended to undertake spectroscopy, and we propose a programme to develop the capability to obtain a spectrum of every point in a large area image of the sky, which is essential for understanding how far away the objects found in deep surveys are, but also what the conditions in the gas that make up these objects are.
Planned Impact
The technology programme proposed here will have extensive impact outside of astronomy. Firstly in other academic subject areas such as Earth-observing where the technology is used to look downwards or sideways through the atmosphere rather than upwards, but also in bio-medical imaging, where the Far-infrared wavelength range has many spectral features, and is currently being used in collaboration with the School of Optometry in Cardiff to assess corneal damage, for example. Secondly we also plan to exploit the technology commercially, through the spinout company QMCI (www.terahertz.co.uk) which operates from within the School, with broad applications from fast plasma diagnostic systems in use in Fusion experiments, through laboratory spectroscopy across a wide range of chemistry and materials applications, through to security imaging. We also plan a very strong Outreach programme across both the technology developments and the observational and theoretical astrophysics and cosmology programme, following on from the skills developed during the very successful Herschel/Planck outreach programme, with web-based and standard media information releases, but also tied in with Open days, school visits, and going out into schools and colleges to give presentations and host workshops. This work is closely aligned also with the in-house science communication company Science Made Simple.
Publications
Zotti G
(2018)
Exploring cosmic origins with CORE: Extragalactic sources in cosmic microwave background maps
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Williams G
(2018)
Gravity drives the evolution of infrared dark hubs: JVLA observations of SDC13
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Whitehorn N
(2016)
MILLIMETER TRANSIENT POINT SOURCES IN THE SPTpol 100 SQUARE DEGREE SURVEY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Watkins E
(2019)
Feedback from OB stars on their parent cloud: gas exhaustion rather than gas ejection
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Ward-Thompson D.
(2018)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: LDN 1495 SCUBA-2 and Herschel data (Ward-Thompson+, 2016)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Ward-Thompson D
(2016)
The JCMT and Herschel Gould Belt Surveys: a comparison of SCUBA-2 and Herschel data of dense cores in the Taurus dark cloud L1495
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ward-Thompson D
(2017)
First Results from BISTRO: A SCUBA-2 Polarimeter Survey of the Gould Belt
in The Astrophysical Journal
Wang Jia-Wei
(2018)
JCMT BISTRO survey: Magnetic Fields within the Hub-Filament Structure in IC 5146
in arXiv e-prints
Velázquez M
(2016)
Design of a 2-mm Wavelength KIDs Prototype Camera for the Large Millimeter Telescope
in Journal of Low Temperature Physics
| Description | Astronomy Grants |
| Amount | £2,212,225 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/K000926/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2013 |
| End | 04/2016 |
| Description | The Simons Observatory |
| Organisation | Simons Observatory |
| Country | Chile |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Within this award the following are members of the Simons Observatory: Prof Carole Tucker, Prof Peter Ade, Dr Erminia Callabrese, Dr Enzo Pascale, Dr Rashmi Sudiwala. The following have the status, 'Motivated Observer', Dr Simon Doyle, Prof Peter Hargrave, Dr Giampaolo Pisano. Dr Erminia Calabrese is a member of the Simons Observatory Theory and Analysis Committee (SOTAC); Profs Tucker and Ade & Dr Pascale are members of technical working groups. Cardiff technology, funded through successive STFC grants enables the control of the thermal and optical environment on this large scale Submm telescope. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Simons Observatory will fund infrastructure upgrade to existing STFC funded facilities for the manufacture of quasi optical components to very large sizes (700 mm). Cardiff STFC-funded academics will be authors of forthcoming scientific papers by the SO team. |
| Impact | Outputs will be in future - during instrument build and then first light - from 2020. |
| Start Year | 2017 |