MSSL/UCL Astrophysics Consolidated Grant 2016-2019
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Mullard Space Science Laboratory
Abstract
This consolidated grant application comprises a portfolio of related projects across the fields of astrophysics and instrumentation.
The astrophysics projects are in three strands: high energy astrophysics; galaxy formation & evolution; and cosmology. These each have a direct and influential connection with the space facilities by which each field is or will be transformed. This is the particular advantage held by the Group, providing a noteworthy dimension to the work we propose. However our programme is by no means limited by MSSL hardware exploitation or even the exploitation of missions flying our hardware. Rather, every route available is considered, including ground-based facilities, when gathering the data necessary to understand the science questions that we address and that have been identified by STFC as being important. The Consolidated Grant also sets the foundation for the expoitation of future missions including JWST, Euclid, PLATO, Athena (and, potentially, LOFT), in which we have significant roles.
Our instrumentation research is focused on the development of novel, miniaturised <0.1K coolers.
We present twelve projects, aligned with these four fields of expertise. In order, these are three cases in high energy astrophysics/extreme gravity environments (Zane (2), Wu); four cases in galaxy formation and evolution (one of which links also to the high-energy astrophysics theme) (Page, Kawata, Cropper, Ferreras), three in cosmology (McEwen, Kitching (2)); and a technical case for the further development of a cryogenic cooler (Hepburn), which is an investment in a critical space technology for the future. This set of projects is chosen to take forward the core research activity of the Group. There is also an outreach request (Green) to ensure the outcomes of these projects are taken to the wider community.
The astrophysics projects are in three strands: high energy astrophysics; galaxy formation & evolution; and cosmology. These each have a direct and influential connection with the space facilities by which each field is or will be transformed. This is the particular advantage held by the Group, providing a noteworthy dimension to the work we propose. However our programme is by no means limited by MSSL hardware exploitation or even the exploitation of missions flying our hardware. Rather, every route available is considered, including ground-based facilities, when gathering the data necessary to understand the science questions that we address and that have been identified by STFC as being important. The Consolidated Grant also sets the foundation for the expoitation of future missions including JWST, Euclid, PLATO, Athena (and, potentially, LOFT), in which we have significant roles.
Our instrumentation research is focused on the development of novel, miniaturised <0.1K coolers.
We present twelve projects, aligned with these four fields of expertise. In order, these are three cases in high energy astrophysics/extreme gravity environments (Zane (2), Wu); four cases in galaxy formation and evolution (one of which links also to the high-energy astrophysics theme) (Page, Kawata, Cropper, Ferreras), three in cosmology (McEwen, Kitching (2)); and a technical case for the further development of a cryogenic cooler (Hepburn), which is an investment in a critical space technology for the future. This set of projects is chosen to take forward the core research activity of the Group. There is also an outreach request (Green) to ensure the outcomes of these projects are taken to the wider community.
Planned Impact
Beneficiaries:
Members of the UK Science Community, particularly those in Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology, but also those in the statistical methods, numerical methods, imaging techniques and signal processing communities. Those engaged in space instrumentation development both within academia and industry, especially detector manufacturers e2v.
Relevance, and how the benefit will accrue:
The broad relevance of the work in the proposed projects lies in the extension of knowledge and understanding of the Cosmos, which is evidently of almost universal interest. There are also specific relevances in cryogenic engineering (project 2.11), and in signal processing (2.8), with medium-term commercial opportunities. Space science is an inspirational subject and its promotion has real benefit to the UK economy through greater interest in STEM subjects (the outreach project 2.12) and a generally greater understanding of science and technology amongst the public. Space projects stimulated by space science inquiry lead to direct industrial benefit, enhanced technology, influence and national kudos. MSSL-UCL, is, through its space instrumentation programme (not requested in this grant except for 2.11) and international links to aerospace companies and national agencies, especially engaged in knowledge transfer at all levels, and in a particularly advantaged position to promote these (evidence for this is given in section A.3).
The outcomes from these proposed projects will be analyses and conclusions arising from the work in the projects, and will be published in open access learned journals, and so acccessible to all. The benefits will initially accrue to other scientists in the fields addressed in the projects, and then, made known to the wider public as and where possible. UCL has embraced the concept of Open Access.
Examples of specific activities designed to increase impact include:
1) the cooperative engagement of the biomedical and signal processing communities with the astronomical through the BASP meetings (see case) to share and enhance the capability for fundamental information theory approaches in the statistical treatment of surveys and imaging, given noise, biases and incomplete data. This has wide-reaching implications for treatment of extremely large datasets, with applicability in many disciplines, from the financial to engineering to medical and the public policy sphere.
2) the engagement with the financial and big-data sector (Kaggle and Winton Capital) to enhance the principles of algorithmic development to analyse crowd-sourced inputs from large surveys of galaxy images (see case);
3) through the Euclid work (project 2.10) identifying with exquisite detail the extent to which large astronomic surveys can inform detector characteristics (systematic effects, radiation, noise behaviour) to be provided through the instrumentation team to CCD manufacturers e2v;
4) a development in cryogenic coolers to reduce them from large and cumbersome pieces of laboratory equipment to provide a complete portable low electrical power cryogenic system in the region of 10 kg rather than ~200 kg as for current systems. Such technology would be very attractive scientifically in small satellites and, beyond, in many other applications in the bio-medical and physical sciences.
Members of the UK Science Community, particularly those in Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology, but also those in the statistical methods, numerical methods, imaging techniques and signal processing communities. Those engaged in space instrumentation development both within academia and industry, especially detector manufacturers e2v.
Relevance, and how the benefit will accrue:
The broad relevance of the work in the proposed projects lies in the extension of knowledge and understanding of the Cosmos, which is evidently of almost universal interest. There are also specific relevances in cryogenic engineering (project 2.11), and in signal processing (2.8), with medium-term commercial opportunities. Space science is an inspirational subject and its promotion has real benefit to the UK economy through greater interest in STEM subjects (the outreach project 2.12) and a generally greater understanding of science and technology amongst the public. Space projects stimulated by space science inquiry lead to direct industrial benefit, enhanced technology, influence and national kudos. MSSL-UCL, is, through its space instrumentation programme (not requested in this grant except for 2.11) and international links to aerospace companies and national agencies, especially engaged in knowledge transfer at all levels, and in a particularly advantaged position to promote these (evidence for this is given in section A.3).
The outcomes from these proposed projects will be analyses and conclusions arising from the work in the projects, and will be published in open access learned journals, and so acccessible to all. The benefits will initially accrue to other scientists in the fields addressed in the projects, and then, made known to the wider public as and where possible. UCL has embraced the concept of Open Access.
Examples of specific activities designed to increase impact include:
1) the cooperative engagement of the biomedical and signal processing communities with the astronomical through the BASP meetings (see case) to share and enhance the capability for fundamental information theory approaches in the statistical treatment of surveys and imaging, given noise, biases and incomplete data. This has wide-reaching implications for treatment of extremely large datasets, with applicability in many disciplines, from the financial to engineering to medical and the public policy sphere.
2) the engagement with the financial and big-data sector (Kaggle and Winton Capital) to enhance the principles of algorithmic development to analyse crowd-sourced inputs from large surveys of galaxy images (see case);
3) through the Euclid work (project 2.10) identifying with exquisite detail the extent to which large astronomic surveys can inform detector characteristics (systematic effects, radiation, noise behaviour) to be provided through the instrumentation team to CCD manufacturers e2v;
4) a development in cryogenic coolers to reduce them from large and cumbersome pieces of laboratory equipment to provide a complete portable low electrical power cryogenic system in the region of 10 kg rather than ~200 kg as for current systems. Such technology would be very attractive scientifically in small satellites and, beyond, in many other applications in the bio-medical and physical sciences.
Organisations
- University College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- National Institute for Nuclear Physics (Collaboration)
- Thales Group (Collaboration)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Collaboration)
- Teledyne Technologies International Corp (Collaboration)
- Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (Collaboration)
- University of Geneva (Collaboration)
- The Open University (Collaboration)
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Collaboration)
- UK Space Agency (Collaboration)
- European Space Agency (Collaboration)
- University of Valencia (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON (Collaboration)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- HARVARD UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER (Collaboration)
- National Institute for Astrophysics (Collaboration)
- Airbus Group (Collaboration)
- Tsinghua University China (Collaboration)
- University of East Anglia (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) (Collaboration)
- University of Wroclaw (Collaboration)
- UK Astronomy Technology Centre (ATC) (Collaboration)
- European Commission (Collaboration)
Publications
Zhang X
(2018)
The large area detector onboard the eXTP mission
Zhang S
(2018)
The enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry mission-eXTP
in Science China Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy
Zane S
(2020)
Gravitational burst radiation from pulsars in the Galactic centre and stellar clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Yuan Q
(2018)
A systematic Chandra study of Sgr A?: II. X-ray flare statistics
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Yu B
(2020)
A hydrodynamical study of outflows in starburst galaxies with different driving mechanisms
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wyrzykowski L
(2020)
Full orbital solution for the binary system in the northern Galactic disc microlensing event Gaia16aye
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Wu K
(2020)
Charge-exchange emission and cold clumps in multiphase galactic outflows
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wojno J
(2017)
The selection function of the RAVE survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wojno J
(2016)
Chemical separation of disc components using RAVE
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| Description | The paper by Symeonidis et al (2016) "AGN are cooler than you think: the intrinsic far-IR emission from QSOs" (DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stw667) established that the contribution to the highest luminosity active galaxies (those with an actively accreting black hole at their centre) is mainly from the energy released as it falls onto the black hole, rather than from a strong burst of star formation. This changes our understanding of the history of star formation in the Universe. |
| Exploitation Route | This is an active area of research in galaxy evolution, and the paper is cited over 50 times. |
| Sectors | Other |
| URL | https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/459/1/257/2608976 |
| Description | A White Paper on best practices for public engagement with UK space missions |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Impact | These are early times on the path to make public engagement in UK space missions more widespread and effective. Most of the work in this area is on a voluntary, best effort basis by academic and research staff. The WP argues for a more systematic, organised and well funded support of public engagement activities. Small, individual grant applications for outreach are often the only means to realise activities. Direct interaction by academics, researchers, PhD students with school pupils and teachers, especially in disadvantaged parts of the country, is a very effective, successful and rewarding way to engage the young in space projects. |
| Description | Standard grant |
| Amount | £673,107 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/P022898/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2018 |
| End | 10/2019 |
| Description | Correlated electronic states for cryogenic refrigeration |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Department of Physics |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Low temperature materials testing of new metallic refrigerants for millikelvin cooling |
| Collaborator Contribution | development of new metallic refrigerants for millikelvin cooling |
| Impact | Non yet early days in the project |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | ESA's Euclid Mission |
| Organisation | Airbus Group |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Euclid Consortium has some 1500 scientists and engineers across Europe, North America and Japan. There are too many institutions to list here - I don't have the full list but there are likely substantially more than 100. We contribute at a high level within this Consortium and in particular lead the provision of one of the two instruments on the mission, the VIS instrument. This will provide the largest images sent from space for at least a decade or more. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We collaborate to build the Euclid cosmology mission, which is a €1B endeavour. |
| Impact | The outputs have been the provision of the VIS instrument to ESA and to the design of the mission more generally. In 2011 the UK led this mission for a short period, and it has continued to have a major influence. |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | ESA's Euclid Mission |
| Organisation | European Space Agency |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The Euclid Consortium has some 1500 scientists and engineers across Europe, North America and Japan. There are too many institutions to list here - I don't have the full list but there are likely substantially more than 100. We contribute at a high level within this Consortium and in particular lead the provision of one of the two instruments on the mission, the VIS instrument. This will provide the largest images sent from space for at least a decade or more. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We collaborate to build the Euclid cosmology mission, which is a €1B endeavour. |
| Impact | The outputs have been the provision of the VIS instrument to ESA and to the design of the mission more generally. In 2011 the UK led this mission for a short period, and it has continued to have a major influence. |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | ESA's Euclid Mission |
| Organisation | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The Euclid Consortium has some 1500 scientists and engineers across Europe, North America and Japan. There are too many institutions to list here - I don't have the full list but there are likely substantially more than 100. We contribute at a high level within this Consortium and in particular lead the provision of one of the two instruments on the mission, the VIS instrument. This will provide the largest images sent from space for at least a decade or more. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We collaborate to build the Euclid cosmology mission, which is a €1B endeavour. |
| Impact | The outputs have been the provision of the VIS instrument to ESA and to the design of the mission more generally. In 2011 the UK led this mission for a short period, and it has continued to have a major influence. |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | ESA's Euclid Mission |
| Organisation | Teledyne Technologies International Corp |
| Department | Teledyne e2v |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The Euclid Consortium has some 1500 scientists and engineers across Europe, North America and Japan. There are too many institutions to list here - I don't have the full list but there are likely substantially more than 100. We contribute at a high level within this Consortium and in particular lead the provision of one of the two instruments on the mission, the VIS instrument. This will provide the largest images sent from space for at least a decade or more. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We collaborate to build the Euclid cosmology mission, which is a €1B endeavour. |
| Impact | The outputs have been the provision of the VIS instrument to ESA and to the design of the mission more generally. In 2011 the UK led this mission for a short period, and it has continued to have a major influence. |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | ESA's Euclid Mission |
| Organisation | Thales Group |
| Department | Thales Alenia Space |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The Euclid Consortium has some 1500 scientists and engineers across Europe, North America and Japan. There are too many institutions to list here - I don't have the full list but there are likely substantially more than 100. We contribute at a high level within this Consortium and in particular lead the provision of one of the two instruments on the mission, the VIS instrument. This will provide the largest images sent from space for at least a decade or more. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We collaborate to build the Euclid cosmology mission, which is a €1B endeavour. |
| Impact | The outputs have been the provision of the VIS instrument to ESA and to the design of the mission more generally. In 2011 the UK led this mission for a short period, and it has continued to have a major influence. |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | ESA's Euclid Mission |
| Organisation | UK Space Agency |
| Department | Euclid Consortium |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The Euclid Consortium has some 1500 scientists and engineers across Europe, North America and Japan. There are too many institutions to list here - I don't have the full list but there are likely substantially more than 100. We contribute at a high level within this Consortium and in particular lead the provision of one of the two instruments on the mission, the VIS instrument. This will provide the largest images sent from space for at least a decade or more. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We collaborate to build the Euclid cosmology mission, which is a €1B endeavour. |
| Impact | The outputs have been the provision of the VIS instrument to ESA and to the design of the mission more generally. In 2011 the UK led this mission for a short period, and it has continued to have a major influence. |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | Euclid Consortium |
| Organisation | UK Space Agency |
| Department | Euclid Consortium |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Science Lead, and Weak Lensing Science Working Group coordinator. Funded PRDA led the weak lensing end-to-end activities and science performance verfication work. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The ESA Euclid consortium provides the general context for this work. |
| Impact | All outcomes are a result of this partnership. |
| Start Year | 2006 |
| Description | Filter Wheels design and manufacture WP |
| Organisation | National Institute for Astrophysics |
| Department | Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology (IAPS) |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | MSSL leads the design and manufacture of the XIPE filter wheels and control electronics. Together with the detector and the calibration sources, this is one of the three main components of the XIPE focal plane. Other institutions in Europe and China are responsible for the other sub-components of the focal plane |
| Collaborator Contribution | Specifically, the INFN (PIsa) is responsible for the Detector Set (GPD and BEE), IAPS/INAF (Rome) is responsible for the calibration sources. Other minor sub-components and providers related to this activity are: filters (Tsinghua University), HV power supply (Wroclaw University) and Focal Plane Support (University of Valencia) |
| Impact | MICD, CAD model, Development plan and AIT plan, Model philosophy and Subsystem description have started and expected to be completed by the end of the next financial year. Supporting analysis reports and design reports are developed and will be submitted to the MCR |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Filter Wheels design and manufacture WP |
| Organisation | National Institute for Astrophysics |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | MSSL leads the design and manufacture of the XIPE filter wheels and control electronics. Together with the detector and the calibration sources, this is one of the three main components of the XIPE focal plane. Other institutions in Europe and China are responsible for the other sub-components of the focal plane |
| Collaborator Contribution | Specifically, the INFN (PIsa) is responsible for the Detector Set (GPD and BEE), IAPS/INAF (Rome) is responsible for the calibration sources. Other minor sub-components and providers related to this activity are: filters (Tsinghua University), HV power supply (Wroclaw University) and Focal Plane Support (University of Valencia) |
| Impact | MICD, CAD model, Development plan and AIT plan, Model philosophy and Subsystem description have started and expected to be completed by the end of the next financial year. Supporting analysis reports and design reports are developed and will be submitted to the MCR |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Filter Wheels design and manufacture WP |
| Organisation | National Institute for Nuclear Physics |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | MSSL leads the design and manufacture of the XIPE filter wheels and control electronics. Together with the detector and the calibration sources, this is one of the three main components of the XIPE focal plane. Other institutions in Europe and China are responsible for the other sub-components of the focal plane |
| Collaborator Contribution | Specifically, the INFN (PIsa) is responsible for the Detector Set (GPD and BEE), IAPS/INAF (Rome) is responsible for the calibration sources. Other minor sub-components and providers related to this activity are: filters (Tsinghua University), HV power supply (Wroclaw University) and Focal Plane Support (University of Valencia) |
| Impact | MICD, CAD model, Development plan and AIT plan, Model philosophy and Subsystem description have started and expected to be completed by the end of the next financial year. Supporting analysis reports and design reports are developed and will be submitted to the MCR |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Filter Wheels design and manufacture WP |
| Organisation | Tsinghua University China |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | MSSL leads the design and manufacture of the XIPE filter wheels and control electronics. Together with the detector and the calibration sources, this is one of the three main components of the XIPE focal plane. Other institutions in Europe and China are responsible for the other sub-components of the focal plane |
| Collaborator Contribution | Specifically, the INFN (PIsa) is responsible for the Detector Set (GPD and BEE), IAPS/INAF (Rome) is responsible for the calibration sources. Other minor sub-components and providers related to this activity are: filters (Tsinghua University), HV power supply (Wroclaw University) and Focal Plane Support (University of Valencia) |
| Impact | MICD, CAD model, Development plan and AIT plan, Model philosophy and Subsystem description have started and expected to be completed by the end of the next financial year. Supporting analysis reports and design reports are developed and will be submitted to the MCR |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Filter Wheels design and manufacture WP |
| Organisation | University of Valencia |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | MSSL leads the design and manufacture of the XIPE filter wheels and control electronics. Together with the detector and the calibration sources, this is one of the three main components of the XIPE focal plane. Other institutions in Europe and China are responsible for the other sub-components of the focal plane |
| Collaborator Contribution | Specifically, the INFN (PIsa) is responsible for the Detector Set (GPD and BEE), IAPS/INAF (Rome) is responsible for the calibration sources. Other minor sub-components and providers related to this activity are: filters (Tsinghua University), HV power supply (Wroclaw University) and Focal Plane Support (University of Valencia) |
| Impact | MICD, CAD model, Development plan and AIT plan, Model philosophy and Subsystem description have started and expected to be completed by the end of the next financial year. Supporting analysis reports and design reports are developed and will be submitted to the MCR |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Filter Wheels design and manufacture WP |
| Organisation | University of Wroclaw |
| Country | Poland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | MSSL leads the design and manufacture of the XIPE filter wheels and control electronics. Together with the detector and the calibration sources, this is one of the three main components of the XIPE focal plane. Other institutions in Europe and China are responsible for the other sub-components of the focal plane |
| Collaborator Contribution | Specifically, the INFN (PIsa) is responsible for the Detector Set (GPD and BEE), IAPS/INAF (Rome) is responsible for the calibration sources. Other minor sub-components and providers related to this activity are: filters (Tsinghua University), HV power supply (Wroclaw University) and Focal Plane Support (University of Valencia) |
| Impact | MICD, CAD model, Development plan and AIT plan, Model philosophy and Subsystem description have started and expected to be completed by the end of the next financial year. Supporting analysis reports and design reports are developed and will be submitted to the MCR |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Gaia Data Flow System |
| Organisation | Open University |
| Department | Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provision of science data processing workpackages for Gaia Radial Velocity Spectrometer as part of the Gaia DPAC CU6. |
| Impact | Gaia data processing software |
| Start Year | 2006 |
| Description | Gaia Data Flow System |
| Organisation | Rutherford Appleton Laboratory |
| Department | Space Science and Technology Department |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provision of science data processing workpackages for Gaia Radial Velocity Spectrometer as part of the Gaia DPAC CU6. |
| Impact | Gaia data processing software |
| Start Year | 2006 |
| Description | Gaia Data Flow System |
| Organisation | UK Astronomy Technology Centre (ATC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provision of science data processing workpackages for Gaia Radial Velocity Spectrometer as part of the Gaia DPAC CU6. |
| Impact | Gaia data processing software |
| Start Year | 2006 |
| Description | Gaia Data Flow System |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Institute of Astronomy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provision of science data processing workpackages for Gaia Radial Velocity Spectrometer as part of the Gaia DPAC CU6. |
| Impact | Gaia data processing software |
| Start Year | 2006 |
| Description | Gaia Data Flow System |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Department | Department of Physics & Astronomy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provision of science data processing workpackages for Gaia Radial Velocity Spectrometer as part of the Gaia DPAC CU6. |
| Impact | Gaia data processing software |
| Start Year | 2006 |
| Description | MSSL-UCL Astrophysics Consolidated Grant 2016-2019 |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Department | Department of Space and Climate Physics (MSSL) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Scientific Research supported by STFC Consolidated Grant |
| Collaborator Contribution | Scientific Research supported by STFC Consolidated Grant |
| Impact | Scientific research. Public outreach |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Principal Investigator for the UK hardware and science contribution to XIPE (ESA M4 candidate) |
| Organisation | University of Geneva |
| Department | X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer (XIPE) |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Leading the study of the UK hardware contribution to the XIPE instrument during the assessment phase. Leading the XIPE scientific working group in Strong Magnetism. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners of the XIPE mission study involve a team of scientists from EU countries |
| Impact | n/a |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | SPINS-UK |
| Organisation | University of East Anglia |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-organizer of SPINS-UK, a network of UK scientists working on neutron star science |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-organizer of SPINS-UK, a network of UK scientists working on neutron star science |
| Impact | Co-organizer of SPINS-UK, a network of UK scientists working on neutron star science |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | System Engineering for the XIPE M4 candidate |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Department | INTAS |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | MSSL leads the thermal systems engineering for XIPE at system level, while other supporting groups in Europe will complete the detailed design and manufacture of single sub-components. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Other supporting groups involve University of Valencia and INTA (Spain), and the INFN (Pisa). Specifically, the INFN -Pisa is responsible for the detector set thermal design, University of Valencia for the thermal design of the Focal Plane Assembly, INTA (Spain) for the Environmental test |
| Impact | A thermal design document will be finalized in view of the MCR |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | System Engineering for the XIPE M4 candidate |
| Organisation | National Institute for Nuclear Physics |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | MSSL leads the thermal systems engineering for XIPE at system level, while other supporting groups in Europe will complete the detailed design and manufacture of single sub-components. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Other supporting groups involve University of Valencia and INTA (Spain), and the INFN (Pisa). Specifically, the INFN -Pisa is responsible for the detector set thermal design, University of Valencia for the thermal design of the Focal Plane Assembly, INTA (Spain) for the Environmental test |
| Impact | A thermal design document will be finalized in view of the MCR |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | System Engineering for the XIPE M4 candidate |
| Organisation | University of Valencia |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | MSSL leads the thermal systems engineering for XIPE at system level, while other supporting groups in Europe will complete the detailed design and manufacture of single sub-components. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Other supporting groups involve University of Valencia and INTA (Spain), and the INFN (Pisa). Specifically, the INFN -Pisa is responsible for the detector set thermal design, University of Valencia for the thermal design of the Focal Plane Assembly, INTA (Spain) for the Environmental test |
| Impact | A thermal design document will be finalized in view of the MCR |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | X-ray studies of Jupiter's aurora |
| Organisation | Harvard University |
| Department | Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in analysis and interpretation of planetary X-ray data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Data analysis techniques and magnetospheric physics expertise. |
| Impact | Several refereed papers and conference presentations. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | X-ray studies of Jupiter's aurora |
| Organisation | Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency |
| Department | Institute of Space and Astronautical Science |
| Country | Japan |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in analysis and interpretation of planetary X-ray data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Data analysis techniques and magnetospheric physics expertise. |
| Impact | Several refereed papers and conference presentations. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | X-ray studies of Jupiter's aurora |
| Organisation | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in analysis and interpretation of planetary X-ray data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Data analysis techniques and magnetospheric physics expertise. |
| Impact | Several refereed papers and conference presentations. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | X-ray studies of Jupiter's aurora |
| Organisation | Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in analysis and interpretation of planetary X-ray data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Data analysis techniques and magnetospheric physics expertise. |
| Impact | Several refereed papers and conference presentations. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | X-ray studies of Jupiter's aurora |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in analysis and interpretation of planetary X-ray data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Data analysis techniques and magnetospheric physics expertise. |
| Impact | Several refereed papers and conference presentations. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Article written |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Article written for coversation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://theconversation.com/how-crashing-neutron-stars-killed-off-some-of-our-best-ideas-about-what-... |
| Description | Article written in Conversation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Wrote article for conversation https://theconversation.com/what-would-it-have-been-like-to-witness-the-beginning-of-the-universe-90043 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://theconversation.com/what-would-it-have-been-like-to-witness-the-beginning-of-the-universe-90... |
| Description | Conversation article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Article written for conversation |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://theconversation.com/the-experiments-trying-to-crack-physics-biggest-question-what-is-dark-en... |
| Description | First Signs of Weird Quantum Property of Empty Space? - ESO press release |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | ESO press release (followed by several other releases on international press and websites) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Future Perspective in NS polarimetry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | NAM 2017 Invited Talk |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Future Perspectives in X-ray Polarimetry |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at the NAM 2017 Royal Astronomical Society Meeting - Dedicated Session on X-ray polarimetry - 3 Jul 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | High Throughput in X-ray Astronomy - Internation Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Member of the Scientific Organization Commetee for the International Scientific Meeting " High Throughput in X-ray Astronomy in the eXTP era", held in Rome on 6-8 Feb 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Industrial meeting with THALES-I |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A meeting and report from the XIPE Industrial meeting THALES-I. The meeting has taken place in Turin, Italy, on 23 and 24 April 2016. Participation was restricted to 3 XIPE consortium members, while all others joined via remote connection. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Industrial meeting ASTRIUM-D |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A report from the Industrial partner ASTRIUM-D- Germany. The meeting has taken place in Germany. Participation was reserved to only 3 members of the XIPE team, while all others joined via remote connection. Held on 5 April 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | M4 ESA Public presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Speaker at the ESA M4 public presentation, for the mission XIPE |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Meeting with XIPE Industrial Primes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with both industrial primes working on XIPE for ESA. Held in Rome on 20 and 21 Oct 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Pacific Institute of Mathemactical Sciences Public Lecture (in Canada) |
| 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 | It was a public lecture on imaging black holes on the event horizon scale, in the light of the first black hole image was obtained by the Event Horizon Telescope Team. It also discussed the future prospects of studying extreme gravity using non-photonic means. The lectures was life streamed. It was jointly sponsored by the Pacific Institute of Mathematical Science, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and University of Saskatchewan. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.pims.math.ca/scientific-event/190710-pplcrasckw |
| Description | Physics of Neutron Stars 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Member of the Scientific Organization Commettee for the International Science Meeting "The Physics of Neutron Stars 2017", held in St Petersburg, Russia, on 10-14 July 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Public presentations to schools, amateur astronomers, general public continuing to 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | MSSL staff engagement activities always produce demonstrations of great interest from the number of questions and comments received. A point to note is that these activities continued, albeit at a reduced level, during the pandemic, using online connections. And more requests of talks and visits to schools are now arising post-pandemic with face-to-face opportunities always well received. Repeated visits and requests for talks. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022 |
| URL | http://mssl.ucl.ac.uk/SMILE/ |
| Description | Public presentations, continuing to 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Generated many questions on the space research we carry out at MSSL and excited the imagination of the audience provoking interest in learning about the Universe. A point to note is that these activities continued, albeit at a reduced level, during the pandemic, using online connections. And MSSL Open Evenings for the public have now re-started with exceptional high number of applications to attend, and great enthusiasm for the topics presented. Repeat visits and presentations |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2022 |
| URL | http://mssl.ucl.ac.uk/SMILE/ |
| Description | Review in-site of the MSSL hardware activities for XIPE |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Review in-site of the MSSL hardware activities for XIPE - held via telecon on 27 Jan 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Schools day at Euclid meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Organised a schools day for disadvantaged pupils at the Euclid meeting |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://euclid2017.london/index.php/evening-events/ |
| Description | The XIPE mission |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Oral and Poster presentation at the Scientific Meeting "Black Hole accretion and Jets" held in Nepal on 16-21 Oct 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | The first Science Conferemce on the XIPE mission |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Co-Organizer of the first science conference dedicated to XIPE Science - held in Valencia on 24-26 May 2016. Member of the Scientific Organization Commettee |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | XIPE Consortium SGS (Ground Sector) Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A meeting to discuss the XIPE Consortium Ground Sector and activities. Held in Rome on 12 July 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | XIPE Core Team Teleconference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Core Team Teleconference to discuss the roadmap to MSR ESA submission for XIPE - held via remote connection on 04 Jan 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | XIPE ESA science team meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | ESA Science team meeting, held at ESA on 22 Jun 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2016 |
| Description | XIPE ESA science team meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | XIPE ESA science team meeting held at ESA on 25 Jan 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | XIPE ESA science team meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | XIPE ESA science team meeting held at ESA on 23 Nov 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | XIPE FPA meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A preliminary meeting for the definition of the design, mechanical interface aspects and thermal issues of the XIPE Focal Plane Assembly |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | XIPE FPA trade-offs review meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A meeting to discuss the XIPE Focal Plane Assembly (FPA) trade-offs and review the activities- held at University of Valencia on 14 July 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | XIPE Filter Wheel meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A meeting to discuss the status of the Filter Wheel and detector unit design for XIPE - held at MSSL (UK) on 23 Feb 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | XIPE Instrument Team final presentation at ESA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | XIPE Instrument Team final Phase A presentation held at ESA - ESTEC on 1 March 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | XIPE Phase A Final presentation - ADS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | XIPE Phase A Final presentation from the Industrial partner ASTRUM- ADS- held at ESA on 28 Feb 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | XIPE Phase A Final presentation - TAS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | XIPE Phase A Final presentation from the Industrial partner TAS- held at ESA on 2 March 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | XIPE Yellow Book Preparation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A meeting to review the roadmap for the Yellow Book submission at ESA - held via remote connection on 20 Jan 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | XIPE tiger meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | A Tiger meeting to review the first drafts of the ESA XIPE documents. Held in Rome on 16-17 May 2016 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |