Simulations of Planetary Impacts
Lead Research Organisation:
Durham University
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
Performing high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations of planetary impacts in order to study outstanding issues in the solar system, such as: the origin of Uranus' spin axis, the formation of the Moon, the formation of large basins on Mars and Mercury.
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST/N50404X/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2021 | |||
| 1649003 | Studentship | ST/N50404X/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2019 | Jacob Kegerreis |
| Description | LPI Career Development Award |
| Amount | $1,500 (USD) |
| Organisation | Lunar and Planetary Institute |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 03/2018 |
| Title | SEAGen |
| Description | A python implementation of the stretched equal area (SEA) algorithm for generating spherically symmetric arrangements of particles with accurate particle densities, e.g. for SPH initial conditions that precisely match an arbitrary density profile, as presented in Kegerreis et al. (2019), MNRAS 487:4, 5029-5040, https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stz1606. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | Used by our team and others (some gave feedback via email, wider number of users unknown), and formed the basis for a new PhD student's first project. |
| URL | https://pypi.org/project/seagen/ |
| Title | SWIFT |
| Description | SWIFT (SPH With Inter-dependent Fine-grained Tasking) is a hydrodynamics and gravity code for astrophysics and cosmology. I have developed the code for planetary impact simulations in addition to the cosmology it is also designed for. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | Various publications and advances in astrophysics and cosmology. e.g. 1000 times improvement in the number of particles that are feasible for planetary giant impact simulations (Kegerreis et al. 2019, MNRAS 487), and >30 times speedup over the previous de facto standard code (Borrow et al. 2018, SPHERIC 13, 44-51). Also being used by the wider community, including several requests for future extensions. |
| URL | http://www.swiftsim.com/ |
| Description | 8-bit Breadboard Computer |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | For the Celebrate Science festival 2017, I built and demonstrated a programmable 8-bit computer on breadboards, to show how computers actually work and explain the progression from transistors and wires up to computing operations and programs to children and the general public. >8000 attendees, many of whom specifically highlighted the exhibit in event feedback. School teachers also asked about bringing the demo to schools, which will hopefully start happening later this year. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Celebrate Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Celebrate Science festival hosted by Durham University. Presented the "Galaxy Makers" exhibitions from the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2016 and a planetarium show. Over 8500 children and adults attended with lots of discussion and positive feedback. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017 |
| URL | https://www.dur.ac.uk/celebrate.science/ |
| Description | Invited talks at astronomical societies, Pint of Science, Cafe Sci, and similar events |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentations at various UK astronomical societies, Pint of Science, Cafe Sci, and similar events. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019,2020 |
| Description | Planetarium Shows |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Tens of planetarium shows at local events and schools, ranging from single classes of 8 year olds to full day events with GCSE students and beyond. Lots of positive feedback and engagement with questions at the events and requests from schools to repeat the show the next year. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017,2018 |
| Description | Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The "Galaxy Makers" exhibit selected for the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2016, to engage the public about galaxies, their formation, and understanding the universe using computer simulations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.galaxymakers.org/ |
| Description | Science Friday radio segment |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview on Science Friday, a US radio show with ~1.3 million live listeners, to talk about giant impacts on Uranus and supercomputer simulations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/in-the-distant-past-a-massive-space-collision/ |