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
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
Read J
(2021)
Breaking beta: a comparison of mass modelling methods for spherical systems
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lai S
(2021)
Infrared Excesses Around Bright White Dwarfs from Gaia and unWISE. II
in The Astrophysical Journal
Grady J
(2021)
Magellanic Mayhem: Metallicities and Motions
in The Astrophysical Journal
Testi L
(2021)
Brown dwarf disks with ALMA: evidence for truncated dust disks in Ophiuchus (Corrigendum)
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Haworth T
(2021)
Proplyds in the flame nebula NGC 2024
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Panic O
(2021)
Planet formation in intermediate-separation binary systems
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Miley J
(2021)
The impact of pre-main sequence stellar evolution on mid-plane snowline locations and C/O in planet forming discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sellek A
(2021)
The general applicability of self-similar solutions for thermal disc winds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wyatt M
(2021)
Outlier Prediction and Training Set Modification to Reduce Catastrophic Outlier Redshift Estimates in Large-scale Surveys
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Jiang J
(2021)
The awakening beast in the Seyfert 1 Galaxy KUG 1141+371 - I
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tilbrook R
(2021)
NGTS 15b, 16b, 17b, and 18b: four hot Jupiters from the Next-Generation Transit Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jackman J
(2021)
Stellar flares detected with the Next Generation Transit Survey
Inight K
(2021)
Towards a volumetric census of close white dwarf binaries - I. Reference samples
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Riello M
(2021)
Gaia Early Data Release 3 Photometric content and validation
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pelisoli I
(2021)
Optical detection of the rapidly spinning white dwarf in V1460 Her
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Vasiliev E
(2021)
Tango for three: Sagittarius, LMC, and the Milky Way
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Solanki S
(2021)
Periodicities in the K 2 light curve of HP Librae
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Scardoni C
(2021)
The effect of the streaming instability on protoplanetary disc emission at millimetre wavelengths
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Winter A
(2022)
Forming short period sub-stellar companions in 47 Tucanae - II. Analytical expressions for the orbital evolution of planets in dense environments
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dahlqvist C
(2022)
The SHARDDS survey: limits on planet occurrence rates based on point sources analysis via the Auto-RSM framework
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Maitra S
(2022)
Redshift space three-point correlation function of IGM at z < 0.48
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rosdahl J
(2022)
LyC escape from sphinx galaxies in the Epoch of Reionization
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Desira C
(2022)
Discovery of two bright high-redshift gravitationally lensed quasars revealed by Gaia
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Abazajian K
(2022)
CMB-S4: Forecasting Constraints on Primordial Gravitational Waves
in The Astrophysical Journal
Thomsen L
(2022)
Relativistic X-Ray Reverberation from Super-Eddington Accretion Flow
in The Astrophysical Journal
Sisk-Reynés J
(2022)
Evidence for a moderate spin from X-ray reflection of the high-mass supermassive black hole in the cluster-hosted quasar H1821+643
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Scaringi S
(2022)
Localized thermonuclear bursts from accreting magnetic white dwarfs.
in Nature
Speedie J
(2022)
Observing planet-driven dust spirals with ALMA
Ward B
(2022)
Herschel-ATLAS Data Release III: near-infrared counterparts in the South Galactic Pole field - another 100 000 submillimetre galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sullivan D
(2022)
An ALMA 1.3 millimeter Search for Debris Disks around Solar-type Stars in the Pleiades
in The Astronomical Journal
Zhu Y
(2022)
Long Dark Gaps in the Lyß Forest at z < 6: Evidence of Ultra-late Reionization from XQR-30 Spectra
in The Astrophysical Journal
Talbot R
(2022)
Blandford-Znajek jets in galaxy formation simulations: exploring the diversity of outflows produced by spin-driven AGN jets in Seyfert galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Marsh M
(2022)
Fourier formalism for relativistic axion-photon conversion with astrophysical applications
in Physical Review D
Rota A
(2022)
Observational constraints on gas disc sizes in the protoplanetary discs of multiple systems in the Taurus region
in Astronomy & Astrophysics