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
Nidever D
(2019)
Spectroscopy of the Young Stellar Association Price-Whelan 1: Origin in the Magellanic Leading Arm and Constraints on the Milky Way Hot Halo
in The Astrophysical Journal
Norfolk B
(2021)
Dust traps and the formation of cavities in transition discs: a millimetre to sub-millimetre comparison survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
O'Hare C
(2020)
Velocity substructure from Gaia and direct searches for dark matter
in Physical Review D
Oh S
(2020)
Kinematic modelling of clusters with Gaia : the death throes of the Hyades
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Olofsson J
(2019)
Dust production in the debris disk around HR 4796 A
Olofsson J
(2019)
Dust production in the debris disk around HR 4796 A
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Owen J
(2020)
Fingerprints of giant planets in the composition of solar twins
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pala A
(2022)
Constraining the evolution of cataclysmic variables via the masses and accretion rates of their underlying white dwarfs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Paneque-Carreño T
(2021)
Spiral Arms and a Massive Dust Disk with Non-Keplerian Kinematics: Possible Evidence for Gravitational Instability in the Disk of Elias 2-27
in The Astrophysical Journal
Panic O
(2021)
Planet formation in intermediate-separation binary systems
Panic O
(2021)
Planet formation in intermediate-separation binary systems
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Parsons S
(2021)
Magnetic white dwarfs in post-common-envelope binaries
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Parsons S
(2020)
A pulsating white dwarf in an eclipsing binary
in Nature Astronomy
Pawellek N
(2021)
A ~75 per cent occurrence rate of debris discs around F stars in the ß Pic moving group
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pelisoli I
(2022)
Found: a rapidly spinning white dwarf in LAMOST J024048.51+195226.9
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Pelisoli I
(2021)
Optical detection of the rapidly spinning white dwarf in V1460 Her
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pinilla P
(2019)
An Inner Disk in the Large Gap of the Transition Disk SR 24S
Pinilla P
(2019)
An Inner Disk in the Large Gap of the Transition Disk SR 24S
in The Astrophysical Journal
Pinilla P
(2021)
A bright inner disk and structures in the transition disk around the very low-mass star CIDA 1
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pons E
(2020)
X-ray properties of z ? 6.5 quasars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pons E
(2019)
A new bright z = 6.82 quasar discovered with VISTA: VHS J0411-0907
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Pons E
(2021)
Erratum: X-ray properties of z ? 6.5 quasars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Puchwein E
(2019)
Consistent modelling of the meta-galactic UV background and the thermal/ionization history of the intergalactic medium
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Qu F
(2023)
CMB lensing with shear-only reconstruction on the full sky
in Physical Review D
Quanz S
(2021)
Atmospheric characterization of terrestrial exoplanets in the mid-infrared: biosignatures, habitability, and diversity
in Experimental Astronomy
Rafikov R
(2020)
A Fast O(N 2 ) Fragmentation Algorithm
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Rafikov R
(2019)
O(N^2) fragmentation algorithm
Raste J
(2021)
Implications of the z > 5 Lyman-a forest for the 21-cm power spectrum from the epoch of reionization
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Read J
(2021)
Breaking beta: a comparison of mass modelling methods for spherical systems
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Reed S
(2019)
Three new VHS-DES quasars at 6.7 < z < 6.9 and emission line properties at z > 6.5
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rehemtulla N
(2022)
Non-parametric spherical Jeans mass estimation with B-splines
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Reynolds C
(2021)
Observational Constraints on Black Hole Spin
in Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Reynolds C
(2021)
Probing the circumnuclear environment of NGC 1275 with high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Reynolds C
(2020)
Astrophysical Limits on Very Light Axion-like Particles from Chandra Grating Spectroscopy of NGC 1275
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Riello M
(2021)
Gaia Early Data Release 3: Photometric content and validation