Consolidated Grant Astronomy Observation and Theory 2019-2022
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Institute of Astronomy
Abstract
This proposal is for a single Consolidated Grant to support the majority of research in Theoretical and Observational Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Institute of Astronomy (IoA) in Cambridge.
On the largest scales, the proposal includes work to understand the origin and evolution of the Universe itself through precision observations of the cosmic microwave background with new ground-based telescopes, measurements of the 3D positions of galaxies measured with the DES and DESI galaxy surveys, and the development of new techniques to obtain robust constraints on the history of the expansion of the Universe from observations of distant supernovae.
The Universe today is filled with galaxies, of which our own Milky Way is a not atypical example. A full understanding of galaxy formation and evolution requires multiple lines of attack. Observations of the resolved stellar populations in the Milky Way and its Local Group companions provide a detailed fossil record of the dynamical assemblies of the galaxies, the formation of stars, and the buildup of heavy elements over a wide range of mass scales and initial conditions. Researchers at the IoA lead key parts of the data processing for the ESA Gaia space mission, which is performing a survey of the Milky Way with unprecedented precision and volume. Several projects in this proposal will exploit the forthcoming second data release from Gaia (a thousand-fold increase in data over the first release) to understand the dynamics of the Galaxy and its companions. At the other end of the scale, observations of distant galaxies spanning lookback times of up to 12 billion years provide direct measurements of the evolution of galaxy populations and the buildup of stars and metals with cosmic time. The light from these first galaxies likely led to the reionization of hydrogen in the intergalactic medium, when the age of the Universe was less than one billion years. Modelling this process requires sophisticated hydrodynamical simulations, including radiative transfer effects, and is a further focus of this proposal.
It is now recognised that there is an intimate link between the evolution of galaxies and the origin and properties of super-massive black holes, which reside at the centre of the Milky Way and other galaxies. The regions close to black holes allow the exploration of physics at the extremes. The formation and properties of super-massive black holes and their relation to the galaxies in which they reside is a research theme that involves theoretical high-energy astrophysics and observational programmes in the grant.
On much smaller scales within galaxies, the grant focusses of the formation of planetary systems through theoretical modelling of the evolution of protoplanetary disks (exploiting high-resolution imaging with ALMA) and their associated debris disks, and on the atmospheres and geology of extrasolar planets.
On the largest scales, the proposal includes work to understand the origin and evolution of the Universe itself through precision observations of the cosmic microwave background with new ground-based telescopes, measurements of the 3D positions of galaxies measured with the DES and DESI galaxy surveys, and the development of new techniques to obtain robust constraints on the history of the expansion of the Universe from observations of distant supernovae.
The Universe today is filled with galaxies, of which our own Milky Way is a not atypical example. A full understanding of galaxy formation and evolution requires multiple lines of attack. Observations of the resolved stellar populations in the Milky Way and its Local Group companions provide a detailed fossil record of the dynamical assemblies of the galaxies, the formation of stars, and the buildup of heavy elements over a wide range of mass scales and initial conditions. Researchers at the IoA lead key parts of the data processing for the ESA Gaia space mission, which is performing a survey of the Milky Way with unprecedented precision and volume. Several projects in this proposal will exploit the forthcoming second data release from Gaia (a thousand-fold increase in data over the first release) to understand the dynamics of the Galaxy and its companions. At the other end of the scale, observations of distant galaxies spanning lookback times of up to 12 billion years provide direct measurements of the evolution of galaxy populations and the buildup of stars and metals with cosmic time. The light from these first galaxies likely led to the reionization of hydrogen in the intergalactic medium, when the age of the Universe was less than one billion years. Modelling this process requires sophisticated hydrodynamical simulations, including radiative transfer effects, and is a further focus of this proposal.
It is now recognised that there is an intimate link between the evolution of galaxies and the origin and properties of super-massive black holes, which reside at the centre of the Milky Way and other galaxies. The regions close to black holes allow the exploration of physics at the extremes. The formation and properties of super-massive black holes and their relation to the galaxies in which they reside is a research theme that involves theoretical high-energy astrophysics and observational programmes in the grant.
On much smaller scales within galaxies, the grant focusses of the formation of planetary systems through theoretical modelling of the evolution of protoplanetary disks (exploiting high-resolution imaging with ALMA) and their associated debris disks, and on the atmospheres and geology of extrasolar planets.
Planned Impact
The Institute of Astronomy ensures all students, postdoctoral researchers and staff are actively involved both in delivering high-value science, and also engaging and stimulating a variety of additional knowledge-creation activities. These activities focus on public awareness of astrophysical science, and on applications of research developments in medical, space-industry and commercial spheres.
The University of Cambridge has one of the most successful programmes for nurturing knowledge transfer and the resulting economic and societal impact between University departments and industry both in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. The extraordinarily successful Cambridge Science Park is well known, with expertise and ideas from Cambridge Astrophysics being involved in the establishment of several businesses in the Cambridge area.
The IoA's approach to the search for impact opportunities is embedded in the mechanisms that the University has in place to facilitate this. The University's Research Office provides the primary point of contact for corporate liaison, and is actively involved in pursuing impact and knowledge-exchange activities and opportunities throughout the University. Cambridge Enterprise, the University's technology transfer and entrepreneurship arm, exists to enhance the University of Cambridge's contribution to society through knowledge transfer from the University to the community. Members of the Institute of Astronomy interact with these organisations regularly. Engagement with the wider economic community is supported by a Collaborative Research Facilitator, based in the Cavendish Laboratory, who is able to provide advice on relevant networking and funding opportunities.
In summary, the research carried out at the IoA supported through this will lead to a wide range of impacts across a broad range of areas from direct and specific impact in the application of analysis techniques to problems in the medical field to inspirational outreach programmes engaging with those teaching the next generation of scientists.
The University of Cambridge has one of the most successful programmes for nurturing knowledge transfer and the resulting economic and societal impact between University departments and industry both in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. The extraordinarily successful Cambridge Science Park is well known, with expertise and ideas from Cambridge Astrophysics being involved in the establishment of several businesses in the Cambridge area.
The IoA's approach to the search for impact opportunities is embedded in the mechanisms that the University has in place to facilitate this. The University's Research Office provides the primary point of contact for corporate liaison, and is actively involved in pursuing impact and knowledge-exchange activities and opportunities throughout the University. Cambridge Enterprise, the University's technology transfer and entrepreneurship arm, exists to enhance the University of Cambridge's contribution to society through knowledge transfer from the University to the community. Members of the Institute of Astronomy interact with these organisations regularly. Engagement with the wider economic community is supported by a Collaborative Research Facilitator, based in the Cavendish Laboratory, who is able to provide advice on relevant networking and funding opportunities.
In summary, the research carried out at the IoA supported through this will lead to a wide range of impacts across a broad range of areas from direct and specific impact in the application of analysis techniques to problems in the medical field to inspirational outreach programmes engaging with those teaching the next generation of scientists.
Organisations
Publications
Abazajian K
(2022)
CMB-S4: Forecasting Constraints on Primordial Gravitational Waves
in The Astrophysical Journal
Abbott TMC
(2019)
Cosmological Constraints from Multiple Probes in the Dark Energy Survey.
in Physical review letters
Acton J
(2021)
NGTS-19b: a high-mass transiting brown dwarf in a 17-d eccentric orbit
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Adam C
(2021)
Characterizing the morphology of the debris disk around the low-mass star GSC 07396-00759
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Aguado D
(2021)
Elevated r-process Enrichment in Gaia Sausage and Sequoia
in The Astrophysical Journal
Aguado D
(2020)
The S2 Stream: the shreds of a primitive dwarf galaxy.*
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Aiola S
(2020)
The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: DR4 maps and cosmological parameters
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Alston W
(2020)
A dynamic black hole corona in an active galaxy through X-ray reverberation mapping
in Nature Astronomy
Amon A
(2023)
Consistent lensing and clustering in a low- S 8 Universe with BOSS, DES Year 3, HSC Year 1, and KiDS-1000
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
An J
(2019)
Self-consistent potential-density pairs of thick discs and flattened galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
An J
(2021)
Charting galactic accelerations: when and how to extract a unique potential from the distribution function
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ansdell M
(2020)
Are inner disc misalignments common? ALMA reveals an isotropic outer disc inclination distribution for young dipper stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Armstrong DJ
(2020)
A remnant planetary core in the hot-Neptune desert.
in Nature
Ashley R
(2020)
V1460 Her: a fast spinning white dwarf accreting from an evolved donor star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Badurina L
(2020)
AION: an atom interferometer observatory and network
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Baleato Lizancos A
(2021)
Impact of internal-delensing biases on searches for primordial -modes of CMB polarisation
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Baleato Lizancos A
(2021)
Limitations of CMB B -mode template delensing
in Physical Review D
Baleato Lizancos A
(2022)
Delensing the CMB with the cosmic infrared background: the impact of foregrounds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bambic C
(2019)
Efficient Production of Sound Waves by AGN Jets in the Intracluster Medium
in The Astrophysical Journal
Baumgardt H
(2021)
Accurate distances to Galactic globular clusters through a combination of Gaia EDR3, HST , and literature data
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Baxter E
(2021)
The correlation of high-redshift galaxies with the thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect traces reionization
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Belokurov V
(2020)
Unresolved stellar companions with Gaia DR2 astrometry
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bennett J
(2020)
Resolving shocks and filaments in galaxy formation simulations: effects on gas properties and star formation in the circumgalactic medium
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bertoldi A
(2021)
AEDGE: Atomic experiment for dark matter and gravity exploration in space
in Experimental Astronomy
Blagorodnova N
(2020)
Progenitor, precursor, and evolution of the dusty remnant of the stellar merger M31-LRN-2015
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Booth R
(2019)
Planet-forming material in a protoplanetary disc: the interplay between chemical evolution and pebble drift
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Booth R
(2021)
Modelling the delivery of dust from discs to ionized winds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bosman S
(2022)
Hydrogen reionization ends by z = 5.3: Lyman-a optical depth measured by the XQR-30 sample
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bourne M
(2019)
AGN jet feedback on a moving mesh: lobe energetics and X-ray properties in a realistic cluster environment
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Brennan S
(2022)
Progenitor, environment, and modelling of the interacting transient AT 2016jbu (Gaia16cfr)
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Brennan S
(2022)
Photometric and spectroscopic evolution of the interacting transient AT 2016jbu(Gaia16cfr)
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Briegal J
(2022)
Periodic stellar variability from almost a million NGTS light curves
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Brown A
(2022)
Characterizing eclipsing white dwarf M dwarf binaries from multiband eclipse photometry
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Brownson S
(2019)
Detecting the halo heating from AGN feedback with ALMA
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cao X
(2020)
LESSER: a catalogue of spectroscopically selected sample of Lyman-a emitters lensed by galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Carnero Rosell A
(2019)
Brown dwarf census with the Dark Energy Survey year 3 data and the thin disc scale height of early L types
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Carniani S
(2019)
Constraints on high-J CO emission lines in z ~ 6 quasars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Cazzoletti P
(2019)
ALMA survey of Class II protoplanetary disks in Corona Australis: a young region with low disk masses
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Chachan Y
(2019)
Dust accretion in binary systems: implications for planets and transition discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Choi S
(2020)
The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: a measurement of the Cosmic Microwave Background power spectra at 98 and 150 GHz
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Choustikov N
(2023)
Optimizing the evolution of perturbations in the ? CDM universe
in Physical Review D
Clarke C
(2019)
The distribution of relative proper motions of wide binaries in GAIA DR2: MOND or multiplicity?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Clarke C
(2019)
The time evolution of dusty protoplanetary disc radii: observed and physical radii differ
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Clarke C
(2020)
Forbidden line diagnostics of photoevaporative disc winds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Clarke C
(2020)
frankenstein: protoplanetary disc brightness profile reconstruction at sub-beam resolution with a rapid Gaussian process
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Clarke C
(2020)
Planet gap opening across stellar masses
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Clarke J
(2019)
The Milky Way bar/bulge in proper motions: a 3D view from VIRAC and Gaia
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Comerford T
(2019)
Bondi-Hoyle-Lyttleton accretion by binary stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Costes J
(2019)
NGTS-8b and NGTS-9b: two non-inflated hot-Jupiters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Coulton W
(2019)
The bispectrum of polarized galactic foregrounds
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics