Astrophysics Research at the University of Leicester

Lead Research Organisation: University of Leicester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

Our research aims to investigate a range of high-priority science topics in these areas:

i. studying high-energy and high-redshift explosive transients and how they relate to gravitational wave events
ii. investigating the growth and evolution of the first stars and black holes in galaxies
iii. determining the properties of accretion disks in active galactic nuclei
iv. measuring the fundamental properties of white dwarf stars, the remnants of stars like the Sun
v. investigating the properties of exoplanets, brown dwarfs and low mass stars
vi. determining the evolution of tidal disruption events in galaxies where stars are torn apart as they come close to a supermassive black
vii. investigating the origin of the stars seen in the centre of the Milky Way galaxy
viii. determining the structure of the Milky Way galaxy
ix. investigating the auroral emission of exoplanets
x. developing the concept of an intensity interferometry system for the Cherenkov Telescope Array to provide high-resolution images of cosmic objects

We will deliver this programme by carrying out observations using a broad range of ground and space based observing facilities, including XMM-Newton, HST, Swift, GAIA, JWST, ALMA, VLT, VISTA, WHT, INT, LT, NGTS, GOTO and Spitzer, and by conducting numerical simulations using major High Performance Computer facilities such as DiRAC.

Planned Impact

The applicants on the grant offer a diverse skill set that constitute a valuable resource to the private and public sectors. We have extensive experience and expertise in e.g. data analysis and handling, spacecraft and mission management, algorithm design, software engineering and high-performance computing. Exploitation of this expertise is supported at all levels within the University, and is a prime driver behind the £100M 'Space Park Leicester' concept.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is committed to promoting and maximising the impact of our research. The College of Science and Engineering plays a leading role in the Enterprise Agenda for the University and offers dedicated enterprise officers and impact enhancing resources. Further support is provided by the University's Research and Enterprise Division, which works with academics and external stakeholders to create maximum impact in the local, national, and international community. This structure (i) delivers enterprising impact through the alignment of our research with major global and industrial challenges, (ii) identifies and addresses the opportunities to play a positive role in the economic development of our region and the UK, (iii) utilises research and related activities to develop skills and capability within a broad spectrum of the public and private sectors, (iv) provides expert advice and guidance to industry and policy makers, (v) ensures that its intellectual property is effectively transferred and disseminated, and (vi) contributes to the wider cultural benefit of society through an enterprising and engaging outreach programme.

The long-term impact strategy has four elements:

(1) to support and develop the skills and experience of the applicants;
(2) to ensure that links with public and private sector industries are developed and maximised;
(3) to disseminate knowledge, skills and expertise to the benefit of the local, national and international business and civic communities;
(4) to sustain and develop our successful outreach programme with particular emphasis on enhancing our efforts to develop valid outcome measures.

Publications

10 25 50

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Winter A (2022) The growth and migration of massive planets under the influence of external photoevaporation in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Wijers R (2020) LOFAR detectability of prompt low-frequency radio emission during gamma-ray burst X-ray flares in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Wiersema K (2019) The case for a high-redshift origin of GRB 100205A in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Wiersema K (2020) Polarimetry of relativistic tidal disruption event Swift J2058+0516 in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Wiersema K (2019) Chandra and Hubble Space Telescope observations of dark gamma-ray bursts and their host galaxies in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Valeev A (2019) A multiwavelength analysis of a collection of short-duration GRBs observed between 2012 and 2015 in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Tanvir N (2021) Exploration of the high-redshift universe enabled by THESEUS in Experimental Astronomy

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Tanvir N (2019) The fraction of ionizing radiation from massive stars that escapes to the intergalactic medium in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Semczuk M (2020) Tidally induced warps of spiral galaxies in IllustrisTNG in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Semczuk M (2022) Age-morphology dependence of the Milky Way boxy/peanut bulge seen in Mira variables in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Semczuk M (2023) Spiral arms and the angular momentum gap in Milky Way Cepheids in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Semczuk M (2022) The small boxy/peanut structure of the Milky Way traced by old stars in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Selsing J (2019) The X-shooter GRB afterglow legacy sample (XS-GRB) in Astronomy & Astrophysics

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Scardoni C (2022) Inward and outward migration of massive planets: moving towards a stalling radius in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Rowlinson A (2021) LOFAR early-time search for coherent radio emission from short GRB 181123B in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Panic O (2020) TW Hya: an old protoplanetary disc revived by its planet in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Page K (2020) Swift -XRT follow-up of gravitational wave triggers during the third aLIGO/Virgo observing run in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Page K (2019) X-ray properties of two transient ULX candidates in galaxy NGC 7090 in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Nayakshin Sergei (2019) ALMA dusty annular structures: significant implications for planet and star formation theories in From Stars to Planets II - Connecting our understanding of star and planet formation

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Nayakshin S. (2020) The paradox of youth for ALMA planet candidates in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Nayakshin S (2022) ALMA constraints on assembly of core accretion planets in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Nayakshin S (2020) The paradox of youth for ALMA planet candidates in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Nayakshin S (2023) Extreme evaporation of planets in hot thermally unstable protoplanetary discs: the case of FU Ori in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Nativi L (2022) Are interactions with neutron star merger winds shaping the jets? in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Mullaney J (2021) Processing GOTO data with the Rubin Observatory LSST Science Pipelines I: Production of coadded frames in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia

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Mong Y (2020) Machine learning for transient recognition in difference imaging with minimum sampling effort in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Melandri A (2019) Unveiling the enigma of ATLAS17aeu in Astronomy & Astrophysics

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Melandri A (2022) The supernova of the MAGIC gamma-ray burst GRB 190114C in Astronomy & Astrophysics

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Mandhai S (2022) Exploring compact binary merger host galaxies and environments with zELDA in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Makrygianni L (2021) Processing GOTO survey data with the Rubin Observatory LSST Science Pipelines II: Forced Photometry and lightcurves in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia

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Lamb G (2021) GRB jet structure and the jet break in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Lamb G (2020) GRB 170817A as a Refreshed Shock Afterglow Viewed Off-axis in The Astrophysical Journal

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Lamb G (2019) Reverse shocks in the relativistic outflows of gravitational wave-detected neutron star binary mergers in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Klingler N (2019) Swift -XRT Follow-up of Gravitational-wave Triggers in the Second Advanced LIGO/Virgo Observing Run in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series

 
Description ENGRAVE 
Organisation European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Country Germany 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Our Leicester team is part of a large international collaboration to use ESO telescopes and others, for follow-up of the electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational wave events. Tanvir is a member of the governing council of ENGRAVE.
Collaborator Contribution The collaboration has over 250 members, who bring diverse expertise. In particular, real time duties are the responsibility of a core group of about 40 people currently.
Impact One paper submitted so far.
Start Year 2018
 
Description STARGATE 
Organisation European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Country Germany 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Tanvir is PI of a large collaboration whose goal is to obtain optical/nIR follow-up observations of gamma-ray bursts using ESO facilities.
Collaborator Contribution The collaboration consists of a (geographically spread) core group who trigger and analyse the rapid target-of-opportunity observations, plus a wider group who contribute to planning, interpretation and analysis for at least some of the specialised sub-projects. (the number of partner institutions in this sense is large and fluid, and they are not individually listed. Similarly the value of the in-kind contributions is not well defined; except for ESO for which the value recorded here is a rough estimate)
Impact About 15 papers written to date.
Start Year 2016
 
Description VINROUGE 
Organisation European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Country Germany 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Tanvir is PI of a large international collaboration dedicated to using the ESO VISTA telescope for follow-up observations of gravitational wave events.
Collaborator Contribution Other partners provide expertise on different aspects of our campaign.
Impact Two papers directly; several others enabled by the results.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Astronomical Society (Knowle) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk to astronomical society
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Cardiff Astronomical Society 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk to society
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Cheltenham Science Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Panel discussion
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Interview for BBC series "Universe" 
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 Gave wide ranging interview for the producers of the 2021 BBC series "Universe" introduced by Brian Cox. Some of the interview featured in the broadcast programme and some material was used to help script the main commentary.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Northants Natural History Society 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk to society
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Seminar at Goddard Space Flight Centre, USA 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Talk to scientists and engineers at NASA
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Talk at NewScientist Live event 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talk at NewScientist Live event
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Talk to Cambridge University Astronomical Society 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Talk about gravitational waves and gamma-ray bursts
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Talk to Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talking on gravitational waves and gamma-ray bursts to amateur astronomy group: hybrid format, both in person and on-line audience.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022