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
Riello M
(2021)
Gaia Early Data Release 3 Photometric content and validation
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Rigley J
(2022)
Comet fragmentation as a source of the zodiacal cloud
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rigley J
(2020)
Dust size and spatial distributions in debris discs: predictions for exozodiacal dust dragged in from an exo-Kuiper belt
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Rilinger A
(2023)
Determining Dust Properties in Protoplanetary Disks: SED-derived Masses and Settling with ALMA
in The Astrophysical Journal
Roberts C
(2021)
The Black Hole Mass of NGC 4151 from Stellar Dynamical Modeling
in The Astrophysical Journal
Rodman P
(2024)
Evolution of the Magnetic Field in High- and Low-ß Disks with Initially Toroidal Fields
in The Astrophysical Journal
Rogers L
(2024)
Seven white dwarfs with circumstellar gas discs I: white dwarf parameters and accreted planetary abundances
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rogers L
(2020)
Near-infrared variability in dusty white dwarfs: tracing the accretion of planetary material
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
Rosdahl J
(2022)
LyC escape from sphinx galaxies in the Epoch of Reionization
Rosotti G
(2019)
On the millimetre continuum flux-radius correlation of proto-planetary discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Rosotti G
(2020)
The efficiency of dust trapping in ringed proto-planetary discs
Rosotti G
(2020)
High resolution observations of molecular emission lines toward the CI Tau proto-planetary disc: planet-carved gaps or shadowing?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rosotti G
(2020)
The efficiency of dust trapping in ringed proto-planetary discs
Rosotti G
(2020)
The efficiency of dust trapping in ringed protoplanetary discs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Rota A
(2022)
Observational constraints on gas disc sizes in the protoplanetary discs of multiple systems in the Taurus region
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Roy A
(2021)
Revised estimates of CMB B -mode polarization induced by patchy reionization
in Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Rybicki K
(2021)
Single-lens mass measurement in the high-magnification microlensing event Gaia19bld located in the Galactic disc
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Saito R
(2019)
VVV-WIT-04: an extragalactic variable source caught by the VVV Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sanchis E
(2020)
Demographics of disks around young very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in Lupus
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Sanchis E
(2020)
Demographics of disks around young very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in Lupus (Corrigendum)
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Sanders J
(2019)
The pattern speed of the Milky Way bar from transverse velocities
Sanders J
(2020)
Models of distorted and evolving dark matter haloes
Sanders J
(2019)
Transverse kinematics of the Galactic bar-bulge from VVV and Gaia
Sanders J
(2019)
The pattern speed of the Milky Way bar from transverse velocities
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sanders J
(2020)
Near-Gaussian distributions for modelling discrete stellar velocity data with heteroskedastic uncertainties
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sanders J
(2020)
Models of distorted and evolving dark matter haloes
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Scardoni C
(2020)
Type II migration strikes back - an old paradigm for planet migration in discs
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
Scaringi S
(2022)
Localized thermonuclear bursts from accreting magnetic white dwarfs.
in Nature
Schmidt T
(2023)
STRIDES: automated uniform models for 30 quadruply imaged quasars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Schneiderman T
(2021)
Carbon monoxide gas produced by a giant impact in the inner region of a young system.
in Nature
Sefilian A
(2021)
Formation of Gaps in Self-gravitating Debris Disks by Secular Resonance in a Single-planet System. I. A Simplified Model
in The Astrophysical Journal
Sellek A
(2022)
The importance of X-ray frequency in driving photoevaporative winds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sellek A
(2020)
A dusty origin for the correlation between protoplanetary disc accretion rates and dust masses
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society