Astrophysics Consolidated Grant
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Applied Mathematics
Abstract
Many astrophysical phenomena involve complex interactions between magnetic fields and fluid flows, often at parameter values far beyond any terrestrial laboratory experiments. We intend to undertake a systematic programme of research to investigate some of these interactions in several astrophysical objects. We shall utilise a combination of analytical and numerical techniques (including the application of state-of-the-art numerical algorithms optimised for use on massively parallel machines) to gain an understanding of such phenomena. Our unifying philosophy is to investigate the fundamental physical interactions in these astrophysical objects and to use expertise gained in one area in order to make progress in other situations with similar underlying dynamics. In all cases we also intend to connect our theoretical/numerical results with astronomically observable quantities. The specific phenomena that we shall address in this proposal are:
(1) Relativistic jets emanating from active galactic nuclei, and the physics governing instabilities that eventually develop over sufficiently large distances from their origin.
(2) Tidal flows in stars and planets, and how the energy dissipated by them affects the evolution of extra-solar planetary systems and binary stars.
(3) Magnetic and thermal evolution of highly magnetised neutron stars, and how this relates to the bursts and flares observed in such stars.
(4) The atmospheres of extra-solar planets, and how they respond to extremely asymmetric heating from their parent stars.
(1) Relativistic jets emanating from active galactic nuclei, and the physics governing instabilities that eventually develop over sufficiently large distances from their origin.
(2) Tidal flows in stars and planets, and how the energy dissipated by them affects the evolution of extra-solar planetary systems and binary stars.
(3) Magnetic and thermal evolution of highly magnetised neutron stars, and how this relates to the bursts and flares observed in such stars.
(4) The atmospheres of extra-solar planets, and how they respond to extremely asymmetric heating from their parent stars.
Planned Impact
The British public has a great deal of interest in astronomy, as evidenced by the more than 200 amateur astronomical societies. We have already been involved in giving talks to such societies, and will expand our impact in this direction. We further intend to describe some of our most interesting results in articles for popular science and astronomy magazines. We believe there is considerable scope for explaining the astrophysical theories believed to be behind some of the astronomical observations.
Regarding more technical items, STFC recognizes three ways of maximizing the impact of its investment for the benefit of the United Kingdom and its people - world-class research, world-class innovation and world-class skills. We believe our work qualifies on all three counts, in terms of the astrophysical research itself, the innovation of fundamentally new numerical methods (which may also be useful in areas outside astrophysics), and the training of Postdocs and PhD students in utilizing high-performance computing skills (which again are enormously useful in many areas outside astrophysics).
Regarding more technical items, STFC recognizes three ways of maximizing the impact of its investment for the benefit of the United Kingdom and its people - world-class research, world-class innovation and world-class skills. We believe our work qualifies on all three counts, in terms of the astrophysical research itself, the innovation of fundamentally new numerical methods (which may also be useful in areas outside astrophysics), and the training of Postdocs and PhD students in utilizing high-performance computing skills (which again are enormously useful in many areas outside astrophysics).
Organisations
Publications
Vidal J
(2020)
Efficiency of tidal dissipation in slowly rotating fully convective stars or planets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Vidal J
(2020)
Turbulent Viscosity Acting on the Equilibrium Tidal Flow in Convective Stars
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Tobias S
(2020)
Angular momentum transport, layering, and zonal jet formation by the GSF instability: non-linear simulations at a general latitude
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pontin C
(2023)
Tidal Dissipation in Stably Stratified and Semiconvective Regions of Rotating Giant Planets: Incorporating Coriolis Forces
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pontin C
(2023)
Tidal Dissipation in Stratified and Semi-convective Regions of Giant Planets
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pontin C
(2020)
Wave propagation in semi-convective regions of giant planets
Pizzi F
(2022)
Interplay between geostrophic vortices and inertial waves in precession-driven turbulence
in Physics of Fluids
Michaely E
(2020)
Inferred time-scales for common envelope ejection using wide astrometric companions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mathis S
(2020)
Wave propagation in semiconvective regions of giant planets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mandel I
(2023)
The Impact of Spin-kick Alignment on the Inferred Velocity Distribution of Isolated Pulsars
in The Astrophysical Journal
Mamatsashvili G
(2019)
Two types of axisymmetric helical magnetorotational instability in rotating flows with positive shear
in Physical Review Fluids
Makarenko E
(2021)
Testing the fossil field hypothesis: could strongly magnetized OB stars produce all known magnetars?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lin Y
(2023)
Resonant and non-resonant flows in longitudinally and latitudinally librating spheres
in Physics of Fluids
Ivanov P
(2022)
Non-linear tidal excitation of superharmonic gravity waves in main-sequence stars in binary and exoplanetary systems
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Igoshev A
(2020)
The observed velocity distribution of young pulsars - II. Analysis of complete PSRp
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Igoshev A
(2020)
Strong toroidal magnetic fields required by quiescent X-ray emission of magnetars
in Nature Astronomy
Igoshev A
(2021)
Evolution of Neutron Star Magnetic Fields
in Universe
Igoshev A
(2021)
Combined analysis of neutron star natal kicks using proper motions and parallax measurements for radio pulsars and Be X-ray binaries
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Igoshev A
(2023)
Hyper-runaway and hypervelocity white dwarf candidates in Gaia Data Release 3: Possible remnants from Ia/Iax supernova explosions or dynamical encounters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Igoshev A
(2020)
Braking indices of young radio pulsars: theoretical perspective
Igoshev A
(2021)
Magnetic field decay in young radio pulsars
in Astronomische Nachrichten