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
Dong-Páez C
(2022)
A 6D view of stellar shells
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Drake J
(2021)
Whistler-regulated Magnetohydrodynamics: Transport Equations for Electron Thermal Conduction in the High-ß Intracluster Medium of Galaxy Clusters
in The Astrophysical Journal
Du W
(2020)
An Accurate Analytic Mass Model for Lensing Galaxies
in The Astrophysical Journal
Dumitru S
(2019)
Predictions and sensitivity forecasts for reionization-era [C ii ] line intensity mapping
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dyda S
(2020)
Effects of opacity temperature dependence on radiatively accelerated clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Elmegreen B
(2020)
Spatial Segregation of Massive Clusters in Dwarf Galaxies
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Engler N
(2020)
HD 117214 debris disk: scattered-light images and constraints on the presence of planets
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Erkal D
(2019)
The total mass of the Large Magellanic Cloud from its perturbation on the Orphan stream
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ertel S
(2020)
The HOSTS Survey for Exozodiacal Dust: Observational Results from the Complete Survey
in The Astronomical Journal
Evans N
(2019)
Lessons from the curious case of the 'fastest' star in Gaia DR2
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Everall A
(2019)
The tilt of the local velocity ellipsoid as seen by Gaia
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Everall A
(2022)
The photo-astrometric vertical tracer density of the Milky Way - II. Results from Gaia
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fabian A
(2020)
The soft state of the black hole transient source MAXI J1820+070: emission from the edge of the plunge region?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Facchini S
(2019)
High gas-to-dust size ratio indicating efficient radial drift in the mm-faint CX Tauri disk
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
Ferreira T
(2019)
The asymptotic evolution of the stellar merger V1309 Sco: a Blue Straggler in the making?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Foreman S
(2020)
Baryonic effects on the matter bispectrum
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gaikwad P
(2019)
Effect of non-equilibrium ionization on derived physical conditions of the high-z intergalactic medium
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gaikwad P
(2021)
A consistent and robust measurement of the thermal state of the IGM at 2 = z = 4 from a large sample of Ly a forest spectra: evidence for late and rapid He ii reionization
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gallo L
(2019)
Nuclear spallation in active galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gallo L
(2019)
Nuclear spallation in active galaxies
Gandhi P
(2022)
Astrometric excess noise in Gaia EDR3 and the search for X-ray binaries
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ganguly S
(2021)
On Synthetic Absorption Line Profiles of Thermally Driven Winds from Active Galactic Nuclei
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gao Z
(2024)
Flat-sky angular power spectra revisited
Garel T
(2021)
Ly a as a tracer of cosmic reionization in the SPHINX radiation-hydrodynamics cosmological simulation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Garro E
(2020)
VVVX- Gaia discovery of a low luminosity globular cluster in the Milky Way disk
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Garufi A
(2022)
A SPHERE survey of self-shadowed planet-forming disks
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gillen E
(2020)
NGTS clusters survey - I. Rotation in the young benchmark open cluster Blanco 1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grady J
(2021)
Magellanic Mayhem: Metallicities and Motions
Grady J
(2020)
Age demographics of the Milky Way disc and bulge
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grady J
(2021)
Magellanic Mayhem: Metallicities and Motions
in The Astrophysical Journal
Grand R
(2020)
The biggest splash
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gratton S
(2020)
Understanding parameter differences between analyses employing nested data subsets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Green M
(2019)
Phase-resolved spectroscopy of Gaia14aae: line emission from near the white dwarf surface
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Guidi G
(2022)
Distribution of solids in the rings of the HD 163296 disk: a multiwavelength study
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Guo (??) Z
(2020)
Short- and long-term near-infrared spectroscopic variability of eruptive protostars from VVV
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Guo Y
(2020)
Metal Enrichment in the Circumgalactic Medium and Lya Halos around Quasars at z ~ 3
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hales A
(2022)
ALMA Observations of the HD 110058 Debris Disk
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hales A
(2022)
ALMA Observations of the HD 110058 Debris Disk
Hallakoun N
(2023)
An irradiated-Jupiter analogue hotter than the Sun
in Nature Astronomy
Hallakoun N
(2023)
An irradiated-Jupiter analogue hotter than the Sun