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
Reynolds C
(2021)
Observational Constraints on Black Hole Spin
in Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Long F
(2021)
Exploring HNC and HCN line emission as probes of the protoplanetary disk temperature
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Dahlqvist C
(2022)
The SHARDDS survey: limits on planet occurrence rates based on point sources analysis via the Auto-RSM framework
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Wyrzykowski L
(2020)
Full orbital solution for the binary system in the northern Galactic disc microlensing event Gaia16aye
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Garro E
(2020)
VVVX- Gaia discovery of a low luminosity globular cluster in the Milky Way disk
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Balsalobre-Ruza O
(2023)
Tentative co-orbital submillimeter emission within the Lagrangian region L 5 of the protoplanet PDS 70 b
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Witstok J
(2021)
Prospects for observing the low-density cosmic web in Lyman- a emission
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Adam C
(2021)
Characterizing the morphology of the debris disk around the low-mass star GSC 07396-00759
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Merc J
(2020)
Gaia18aen: First symbiotic star discovered by Gaia
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Manara C
(2019)
Observational constraints on dust disk sizes in tidally truncated protoplanetary disks in multiple systems in the Taurus region
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Sanchis E
(2020)
Demographics of disks around young very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in Lupus
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kama M
(2020)
Mass constraints for 15 protoplanetary discs from HD 1-0
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Rota A
(2022)
Observational constraints on gas disc sizes in the protoplanetary discs of multiple systems in the Taurus region
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Mesa D
(2022)
Signs of late infall and possible planet formation around DR Tau using VLT/SPHERE and LBTI/LMIRCam
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Xia Q
(2020)
A gravitational lensing detection of filamentary structures connecting luminous red galaxies
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Maji M
(2022)
Predicting Lyman-continuum emission of galaxies using their physical and Lyman-alpha emission properties
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hodgkin S
(2021)
Gaia Early Data Release 3 Gaia photometric science alerts
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kral Q
(2021)
A molecular wind blows out of the Kuiper belt
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Muro-Arena G
(2020)
Spirals inside the millimeter cavity of transition disk SR 21
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Ribas Á
(2023)
The ALMA view of MP Mus (PDS 66): A protoplanetary disk with no visible gaps down to 4 au scales
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pinilla P
(2021)
A bright inner disk and structures in the transition disk around the very low-mass star CIDA 1
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Fernández-Trincado J
(2020)
The enigmatic globular cluster UKS 1 obscured by the bulge: H -band discovery of nitrogen-enhanced stars
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Guidi G
(2022)
Distribution of solids in the rings of the HD 163296 disk: a multiwavelength study
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Facchini S
(2019)
High gas-to-dust size ratio indicating efficient radial drift in the mm-faint CX Tauri disk
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Rybicki K
(2021)
Single-lens mass measurement in the high-magnification microlensing event Gaia19bld located in the Galactic disc
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Rigliaco E
(2023)
Disk Evolution Study Through Imaging of Nearby Young Stars (DESTINYS): Characterization of the young star T CrA and its circumstellar environment
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Engler N
(2020)
HD 117214 debris disk: scattered-light images and constraints on the presence of planets
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Sanchis E
(2020)
Demographics of disks around young very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in Lupus (Corrigendum)
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Cazzoletti P
(2019)
ALMA survey of Class II protoplanetary disks in Corona Australis: a young region with low disk masses
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Testi L
(2021)
Brown dwarf disks with ALMA: evidence for truncated dust disks in Ophiuchus (Corrigendum)
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Marcel G
(2022)
A unified accretion-ejection paradigm for black hole X-ray binaries VI. Radiative efficiency and radio-X-ray correlation during four outbursts from GX 339-4
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Garufi A
(2022)
A SPHERE survey of self-shadowed planet-forming disks
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Zhang Y
(2023)
Disk Evolution Study Through Imaging of Nearby Young Stars (DESTINYS): Diverse outcomes of binary-disk interactions
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Curone P
(2022)
A giant planet shaping the disk around the very low-mass star CIDA 1
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Olofsson J
(2019)
Dust production in the debris disk around HR 4796 A
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Riello M
(2021)
Gaia Early Data Release 3 Photometric content and validation
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kruszynska K
(2022)
Lens parameters for Gaia 18cbf - a long gravitational microlensing event in the Galactic plane
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Coutens A
(2019)
VLA cm-wave survey of young stellar objects in the Oph A cluster: constraining extreme UV- and X-ray-driven disk photoevaporation A pathfinder for Square Kilometre Array studies
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Zagaria F
(2023)
Dust dynamics in planet-forming discs in binary systems.
in European physical journal plus
Verscharen D
(2021)
A Case for Electron-Astrophysics
in Experimental Astronomy
Quanz S
(2021)
Atmospheric characterization of terrestrial exoplanets in the mid-infrared: biosignatures, habitability, and diversity
in Experimental Astronomy
Bertoldi A
(2021)
AEDGE: Atomic experiment for dark matter and gravity exploration in space
in Experimental Astronomy
Kalaja A
(2023)
The reconstructed CMB lensing bispectrum
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Coulton W
(2019)
Constraining neutrino mass with the tomographic weak lensing bispectrum
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
Roy A
(2021)
Revised estimates of CMB B -mode polarization induced by patchy reionization
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
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
Aiola S
(2020)
The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: DR4 maps and cosmological parameters
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Badurina L
(2020)
AION: an atom interferometer observatory and network
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Coulton W
(2019)
The bispectrum of polarized galactic foregrounds
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics