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
Kama M
(2020)
Mass constraints for 15 protoplanetary discs from HD 1-0
Kama M
(2020)
Mass constraints for 15 protoplanetary discs from HD 1-0
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kamp I
(2021)
The formation of planetary systems with SPICA
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
Kara E
(2023)
UV-Optical Disk Reverberation Lags despite a Faint X-Ray Corona in the Active Galactic Nucleus Mrk 335
in The Astrophysical Journal
Katz H
(2023)
Two modes of LyC escape from bursty star formation: implications for [C ii ] deficits and the sources of reionization
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Katz H
(2021)
Introducing SPHINX-MHD: the impact of primordial magnetic fields on the first galaxies, reionization, and the global 21-cm signal
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Katz H
(2022)
Mg ii in the JWST era: a probe of Lyman continuum escape?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Katz H
(2019)
Probing cosmic dawn with emission lines: predicting infrared and nebular line emission for ALMA and JWST
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Katz H
(2020)
New methods for identifying Lyman continuum leakers and reionization-epoch analogues
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Katz H
(2022)
The nature of high [O iii ]88 µ m/[C ii ]158 µm galaxies in the epoch of reionization: Low carbon abundance and a top-heavy IMF?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kawash A
(2022)
The Galactic Nova Rate: Estimates from the ASAS-SN and Gaia Surveys
in The Astrophysical Journal
Keating L
(2020)
Constraining the second half of reionization with the Ly ß forest
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Keating L
(2020)
Long troughs in the Lyman-a forest below redshift 6 due to islands of neutral hydrogen
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Keating L
(2020)
Constraining the second half of reionization with the Ly ß forest
Keller P
(2022)
Eclipsing white dwarf binaries in Gaia and the Zwicky Transient Faaccility
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Khoperskov S
(2021)
Bimodality of [a Fe]-[Fe/H] distributions is a natural outcome of dissipative collapse and disc growth in Milky Way-type galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kim T
(2021)
The evolution of the low-density H i intergalactic medium from z = 3.6 to 0: data, transmitted flux, and H i column density,,
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kimm T
(2019)
Understanding the escape of LyC and Lya photons from turbulent clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kingsland M
(2019)
Effects of Anisotropic Viscosity on the Evolution of Active Galactic Nuclei Bubbles in Galaxy Clusters
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Kirilov A
(2023)
Line-driven winds from variable accretion discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Komarov S
(2020)
Propagation of weak shocks in cool-core galaxy clusters in two-temperature magnetohydrodynamics with anisotropic thermal conduction
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Koposov S
(2019)
Piercing the Milky Way: an all-sky view of the Orphan Stream
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kosec P
(2020)
Detection of a variable ultrafast outflow in the narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy PG 1448+273
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kosec P
(2020)
An ionized accretion disc wind in Hercules X-1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kosec P
(2023)
Vertical wind structure in an X-ray binary revealed by a precessing accretion disk
in Nature Astronomy
Kosec P
(2021)
Ionized emission and absorption in a large sample of ultraluminous X-ray sources
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kosec P
(2022)
The Long Stare at Hercules X-1. I. Emission Lines from the Outer Disk, the Magnetosphere Boundary, and the Accretion Curtain
in The Astrophysical Journal
Kostrzewa-Rutkowska Z
(2020)
Electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave events from Gaia
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kostrzewa-Rutkowska Z
(2020)
Electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave events from Gaia
Koudmani S
(2021)
A little FABLE: exploring AGN feedback in dwarf galaxies with cosmological simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kral Q
(2021)
A molecular wind blows out of the Kuiper belt
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kral Q
(2020)
Survey of planetesimal belts with ALMA: gas detected around the Sun-like star HD 129590
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Krivov A
(2021)
Solution to the debris disc mass problem: planetesimals are born small?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kruszynska K
(2022)
Lens parameters for Gaia 18cbf - a long gravitational microlensing event in the Galactic plane
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kulkarni G
(2019)
Large Ly a opacity fluctuations and low CMB t in models of late reionization with large islands of neutral hydrogen extending to z < 5.5
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Lacy M
(2021)
A Spitzer survey of Deep Drilling Fields to be targeted by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society