Astrophysics and Cosmology Research at the JBCA 2020-2023
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
This grant supports the research of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester. Our research is a divided into 3 groups. There are too many specific proposals to describe in detail, do below we have given a brief layman's explanation of the work being carried out by the three groups.
Cosmology: This is the study of the Universe as a whole. The main aim is to understand the processes by which the large scale feature of the Universe formed and to constrain the various different kinds of matter that existed within it. These include dark matter and dark energy which are thought to constitute more than 95% of the total. We do this by comparison to observations of weak and strong gravitational lensing which is the distortion of light predicted to be caused by massive objects in Einstein' Theory of General Relativity, the cosmic microwave background which is the faint emission of radiation created at the time when protons and electrons come together to form hydrogen and the emission given off by neutral hydrogen atoms in galaxies. The research we propose here involves both theory and observation as well as the development of the technology necessary to make the observations possible.
Sun, Stars and Galaxies: The researchers in this group study a wide range of astrophysical processes that are reasonable for the formation and evolution of the objects in the name of the group. Specific key areas that the group is interested in are the formation of stars much larger than the Sun and the subsequent evolution, the properties of the so-called interstellar medium (ISM) which comprises molecules not bound to stars and the magnetic fields that permeate space.
Pulsars and Time Domain Astrophysics: The focus of this group is astrophysical signatures that are changing with time- things which come on and off, often with some kind of regularity. These include Pulsars which are a non-standard star type, known as a neutron star, which is a dead star supported by the quantum pressure of neutrons. The radio emission from these objects pulses on an off with extraordinary regularity allowing them to acts cosmic clocks. The constantly measuring these clocks as the neutron stars spin and move through space, often impacted on by a companion star, allows the most precise constraints on the nature of gravity outside the solar system. Other phenomena studied by this group include Nova explosions, other variable stars, and variability induced by the lensing effects of one star passing in front of another, called microlensing.
Cosmology: This is the study of the Universe as a whole. The main aim is to understand the processes by which the large scale feature of the Universe formed and to constrain the various different kinds of matter that existed within it. These include dark matter and dark energy which are thought to constitute more than 95% of the total. We do this by comparison to observations of weak and strong gravitational lensing which is the distortion of light predicted to be caused by massive objects in Einstein' Theory of General Relativity, the cosmic microwave background which is the faint emission of radiation created at the time when protons and electrons come together to form hydrogen and the emission given off by neutral hydrogen atoms in galaxies. The research we propose here involves both theory and observation as well as the development of the technology necessary to make the observations possible.
Sun, Stars and Galaxies: The researchers in this group study a wide range of astrophysical processes that are reasonable for the formation and evolution of the objects in the name of the group. Specific key areas that the group is interested in are the formation of stars much larger than the Sun and the subsequent evolution, the properties of the so-called interstellar medium (ISM) which comprises molecules not bound to stars and the magnetic fields that permeate space.
Pulsars and Time Domain Astrophysics: The focus of this group is astrophysical signatures that are changing with time- things which come on and off, often with some kind of regularity. These include Pulsars which are a non-standard star type, known as a neutron star, which is a dead star supported by the quantum pressure of neutrons. The radio emission from these objects pulses on an off with extraordinary regularity allowing them to acts cosmic clocks. The constantly measuring these clocks as the neutron stars spin and move through space, often impacted on by a companion star, allows the most precise constraints on the nature of gravity outside the solar system. Other phenomena studied by this group include Nova explosions, other variable stars, and variability induced by the lensing effects of one star passing in front of another, called microlensing.
Planned Impact
The range of research we undertake and the world-class facilities within and in close association with JBCA (the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, e-MERLIN, the Lovell Telescope, the ALMA ARC and the SKA HQ) will provide key pathways to increasing our already strong impact on UK and global industry, the next generation of scientists and engineers, and the general public. The University's investment in the Jodrell Bank site combined with significant external funding (e.g. from Heritage Lottery Fund) will enable us to expand its use as an iconic venue for public and industrial engagement. The programme described here formed a key part of the School's submission for REF2014, helping it to be ranked highest in the REF for physics impact with 83% at 4* and 17% at 3*. Our outreach \& public engagement programme is extremely strong and continues to grow, particularly through its work with the University's award-winning Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre and the BBC. With the recent decision on SKA HQ location and our strong research work in this area, there is also growing impact in both outreach and industrial engagement in this area.
Our "Pathways to Impact" statement in the case for support outlines things that we have done in recent times under the headings of "Outreach and Public Engagement" and "Industrial and economic impact". We list some highlights below.
- Jodcast: Podcast run by students with 7000 regular listeners.
- 215000 Twitter and 18000 Facebook followers
- Stargazing live, Pulsar Hunters, Science Programmes presented by Danielle George
- JB Discovery centre with 190000 visitors per year
- Award winning Bluedot Festivals
- Industry contracts for SKA work including CISCO, AASL, NPL, AEON, Critical Software, MMI, GEANT
- Newton programme for Radio Astronomy in Africa.
Our "Pathways to Impact" statement in the case for support outlines things that we have done in recent times under the headings of "Outreach and Public Engagement" and "Industrial and economic impact". We list some highlights below.
- Jodcast: Podcast run by students with 7000 regular listeners.
- 215000 Twitter and 18000 Facebook followers
- Stargazing live, Pulsar Hunters, Science Programmes presented by Danielle George
- JB Discovery centre with 190000 visitors per year
- Award winning Bluedot Festivals
- Industry contracts for SKA work including CISCO, AASL, NPL, AEON, Critical Software, MMI, GEANT
- Newton programme for Radio Astronomy in Africa.
Organisations
Publications
Varga T
(2022)
Synthetic galaxy clusters and observations based on Dark Energy Survey Year 3 Data
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Van der Werf P
(2020)
An ALMA survey of the SCUBA-2 CLS UDS field: physical properties of 707 sub-millimetre galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Vanzella E
(2023)
JWST/NIRCam Probes Young Star Clusters in the Reionization Era Sunrise Arc
in The Astrophysical Journal
Van Mierlo S
(2022)
Euclid preparation XXI. Intermediate-redshift contaminants in the search for z > 6 galaxies within the Euclid Deep Survey
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Van Gelder M
(2022)
Importance of source structure on complex organics emission I. Observations of CH 3 OH from low-mass to high-mass protostars
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Van Gelder M
(2022)
Methanol deuteration in high-mass protostars
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Van Der Wateren E
(2023)
The LOFAR Tied-Array All-Sky Survey: Timing of 35 radio pulsars and an overview of the properties of the LOFAR pulsar discoveries
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Van Der Wateren E
(2022)
Irradiated but not eclipsed, the case of PSR J0610-2100
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Van Cappellen W
(2022)
Apertif: Phased array feeds for the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope System overview and performance characteristics
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Vallisneri M
(2020)
Modeling the Uncertainties of Solar System Ephemerides for Robust Gravitational-wave Searches with Pulsar-timing Arrays
in The Astrophysical Journal
Vacher L
(2022)
High precision modeling of polarized signals: Moment expansion method generalized to spin-2 fields
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Upham R
(2022)
Euclid : Covariance of weak lensing pseudo- C l estimates Calculation, comparison to simulations, and dependence on survey geometry
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Upham R
(2021)
Sufficiency of a Gaussian power spectrum likelihood for accurate cosmology from upcoming weak lensing surveys
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tudorache M
(2022)
MIGHTEE - H i . The relation between the H i gas in galaxies and the cosmic web
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tress R
(2020)
Simulations of the Milky Way's central molecular zone - I. Gas dynamics
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tremblay C
(2020)
Nitric Oxide and Other Molecules: Molecular Modeling and Low-frequency Exploration Using the Murchison Widefield Array
in The Astrophysical Journal
Traficante A
(2022)
Multi-scale dynamics in star-forming regions: The interplay between gravity and turbulence
in EPJ Web of Conferences
Traficante A
(2023)
The SQUALO project (Star formation in QUiescent And Luminous Objects) I: clump-fed accretion mechanism in high-mass star-forming objects
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Towler I
(2023)
Gas clumping and its effect on hydrostatic bias in the MACSIS simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Topping M
(2022)
The ALMA REBELS Survey: specific star formation rates in the reionization era
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tohill C
(2021)
Quantifying Non-parametric Structure of High-redshift Galaxies with Deep Learning
in The Astrophysical Journal
To C
(2021)
Dark Energy Survey Year 1 Results: Cosmological Constraints from Cluster Abundances, Weak Lensing, and Galaxy Correlations.
in Physical review letters
Thorp M
(2021)
Towards robust determination of non-parametric morphologies in marginal astronomical data: resolving uncertainties with cosmological hydrodynamical simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tatematsu K
(2022)
Nobeyama Survey of Inward Motions toward Cores in Orion Identified by SCUBA-2
in The Astrophysical Journal
Tatematsu K
(2020)
ALMA ACA and Nobeyama Observations of Two Orion Cores in Deuterated Molecular Lines
in The Astrophysical Journal
Tatematsu K
(2021)
Molecular Cloud Cores with High Deuterium Fractions: Nobeyama Mapping Survey
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Tasse C
(2021)
The LOFAR Two-meter Sky Survey: Deep Fields Data Release 1 I. Direction-dependent calibration and imaging
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Tang H
(2022)
Radio Galaxy Zoo: giant radio galaxy classification using multidomain deep learning
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tan S
(2023)
Morphologies and Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae in the Galactic bulge from VLT, HST and Pan-STARRS imaging
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tan S
(2023)
When the Stars Align: A 5s Concordance of Planetary Nebulae Major Axes in the Center of Our Galaxy
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Tan S
(2024)
A catalogue of planetary nebulae chemical abundances in the Galactic bulge
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tan C
(2023)
X-ray non-detection of PSR J0250 + 5854
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tahani M
(2023)
JCMT BISTRO Observations: Magnetic Field Morphology of Bubbles Associated with NGC 6334
in The Astrophysical Journal
Szary A
(2022)
MeerKAT Observations of the Reversing Drifting Subpulses in PSR J1750-3503
in The Astrophysical Journal
Szary A
(2020)
Single-pulse Modeling and the Bi-drifting Subpulses of Radio Pulsar B1839-04
in The Astrophysical Journal
Swiggum J
(2023)
The Green Bank North Celestial Cap Survey. VII. 12 New Pulsar Timing Solutions
in The Astrophysical Journal
Sweijen F
(2022)
Deep sub-arcsecond wide-field imaging of the Lockman Hole field at 144 MHz
in Nature Astronomy
Sweijen F
(2022)
High-resolution international LOFAR observations of 4C 43.15 Spectral ages and injection indices in a high-z radio galaxy
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Sweetnam T
(2022)
Simulating the behaviour of travelling wave superconducting parametric amplifiers using a commercial circuit simulator
in Superconductor Science and Technology
Susobhanan A
(2021)
pinta : The uGMRT data processing pipeline for the Indian Pulsar Timing Array
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
Suphapolthaworn S
(2022)
Earth through the looking glass: how frequently are we detected by other civilizations through photometric microlensing?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Stockmann M
(2021)
The Fundamental Plane of Massive Quiescent Galaxies at z ~ 2
in The Astrophysical Journal
Stewart J
(2022)
Oscillatory reconnection and waves driven by merging magnetic flux ropes in solar flares
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Steeghs D
(2022)
The Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO): prototype performance and prospects for transient science
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Stappers B
(2020)
Study of spider pulsar binary eclipses and discovery of an eclipse mechanism transition
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Stankowiak G
(2020)
Detection chain and electronic readout of the QUBIC instrument
Stanford S
(2021)
Euclid Preparation. XIV. The Complete Calibration of the Color-Redshift Relation (C3R2) Survey: Data Release 3
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series