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
MacCrann N
(2022)
Dark Energy Survey Y3 results: blending shear and redshift biases in image simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Shahbaz T
(2022)
The peculiar chemical abundance of the transitional millisecond pulsar PSR J1023+0038 - Li enhancement
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hewitt D
(2020)
A MeerKAT survey of nearby nova-like cataclysmic variables
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Altamura E
(2023)
EAGLE-like simulation models do not solve the entropy core problem in groups and clusters of galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Morello V
(2020)
Optimal periodicity searching: revisiting the fast folding algorithm for large-scale pulsar surveys
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Manning S
(2020)
SuperCLASS - II. Photometric redshifts and characteristics of spatially resolved µ Jy radio sources
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bolliet B
(2021)
Spectral distortion constraints on photon injection from low-mass decaying particles
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wesson R
(2024)
JWST observations of the Ring Nebula (NGC 6720): I. Imaging of the rings, globules, and arcs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Page K
(2022)
The 2021 outburst of the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi observed in X-rays by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory : a comparative study
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Vleeschower L
(2022)
Discoveries and timing of pulsars in NGC 6440
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bailes M
(2021)
Multifrequency observations of SGR J1935+2154
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kong S
(2022)
Filament formation via collision-induced magnetic reconnection - formation of a star cluster
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bezuidenhout M
(2022)
MeerTRAP: 12 Galactic fast transients detected in a real-time, commensal MeerKAT survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Casassus S
(2021)
Resolved spectral variations of the centimetre-wavelength continuum from the ? Oph W photodissociation region
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Stewart J
(2022)
Oscillatory reconnection and waves driven by merging magnetic flux ropes in solar flares
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Song X
(2021)
The Thousand-Pulsar-Array programme on MeerKAT - II. Observing strategy for pulsar monitoring with subarrays
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Oswald L
(2021)
The Thousand-Pulsar-Array programme on MeerKAT - V. Scattering analysis of single-component pulsars
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
Fuller G
(2020)
Methanol and water maser observations separate disc and outflow sources in IRAS 19410+2336
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Andrianjafy J
(2023)
Image plane detection of FRB121102 with the MeerKAT radio telescope
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
Whitworth D
(2023)
Magnetic fields do not suppress global star formation in low metallicity dwarf galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gao Y
(2023)
Precession of magnetars: dynamical evolutions and modulations on polarized electromagnetic waves
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Voronkov M
(2020)
Erratum: Excited-state hydroxyl maser catalogue from the methanol multibeam survey - I. Positions and variability
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Nitu I
(2022)
A search for planetary companions around 800 pulsars from the Jodrell Bank pulsar timing programme
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lower M
(2021)
The impact of glitches on young pulsar rotational evolution
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Spencer R
(2022)
Major and minor flares on Cygnus X-3 revisited
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Zubeldia Í
(2021)
Understanding matched filters for precision cosmology
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mucesh S
(2021)
A machine learning approach to galaxy properties: joint redshift-stellar mass probability distributions with Random Forest
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Varga T
(2022)
Synthetic galaxy clusters and observations based on Dark Energy Survey Year 3 Data
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mata Sánchez D
(2023)
A black widow population dissection through HiPERCAM multiband light-curve modelling
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McBride V
(2020)
Imbalance learning for variable star classification
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Abbate F
(2023)
A MeerKAT look at the polarization of 47 Tucanae pulsars: magnetic field implications
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Leauthaud A
(2022)
Lensing without borders - I. A blind comparison of the amplitude of galaxy-galaxy lensing between independent imaging surveys
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mohan D
(2022)
Quantifying uncertainty in deep learning approaches to radio galaxy classification
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Champion D
(2020)
High-cadence observations and variable spin behaviour of magnetar Swift J1818.0-1607 after its outburst
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
Mong Y
(2023)
Self-supervised clustering on image-subtracted data with deep-embedded self-organizing map
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Barnes D
(2020)
Relativistic SZ temperature scaling relations of groups and clusters derived from the BAHAMAS and MACSIS simulations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Levin L
(2020)
The radio pulsar population of the Small Magellanic Cloud
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Abbate F
(2022)
Four pulsar discoveries in NGC 6624 by TRAPUM using MeerKAT
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lemos P
(2021)
Assessing tension metrics with dark energy survey and Planck data
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wilkins S
(2023)
First Light And Reionization Epoch Simulations (FLARES) VII: The star formation and metal enrichment histories of galaxies in the early Universe
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wilensky M
(2023)
Bayesian jackknife tests with a small number of subsets: application to HERA 21 cm power spectrum upper limits
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tan S
(2024)
A catalogue of planetary nebulae chemical abundances in the Galactic bulge
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sengar R
(2022)
The High Time Resolution Universe Pulsar Survey - XVII. PSR J1325-6253, a low eccentricity double neutron star system from an ultra-stripped supernova
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mall G
(2022)
Modelling annual scintillation arc variations in PSR J1643-1224 using the Large European Array for Pulsars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Marshall A
(2022)
A fresh look at AGN spectral energy distribution fitting with the XMM-SERVS AGN sample
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Schisano E
(2020)
The evolutionary status of protostellar clumps hosting class II methanol masers
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society