A consolidated grant for Sheffield Astrophysics
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The aim of this proposal is to support a programme of internationally excellent research in astrophysics at Sheffield, building on our recent research achievements, and tied to the exploitation of leading international facilities supported by STFC and UKSA.
Planned Impact
The main ways in which our research makes an impact outside the academic community is via our knowledge exchange and outreach activities. To summarise:
1. Knowledge exchange. This is primarily based on the building of the ULTRACAM instrument, which has led to the development of a new data acquisition system that is now used on a host of other instruments.
2. Outreach. Over the last three years members of the Sheffield astrophysics group have delivered more than 40 talks to schools and astronomical societies, 30 in-house master classes for school students, and several press releases, based on their research activities.
Details are given in our pathways to impact statement that is included as an attachment.
1. Knowledge exchange. This is primarily based on the building of the ULTRACAM instrument, which has led to the development of a new data acquisition system that is now used on a host of other instruments.
2. Outreach. Over the last three years members of the Sheffield astrophysics group have delivered more than 40 talks to schools and astronomical societies, 30 in-house master classes for school students, and several press releases, based on their research activities.
Details are given in our pathways to impact statement that is included as an attachment.
Organisations
Publications
Aasi J
(2014)
FIRST SEARCHES FOR OPTICAL COUNTERPARTS TO GRAVITATIONAL-WAVE CANDIDATE EVENTS
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Aldoretta E
(2014)
THE MULTIPLICITY OF MASSIVE STARS: A HIGH ANGULAR RESOLUTION SURVEY WITH THE HST FINE GUIDANCE SENSOR
in The Astronomical Journal
Alvarez-Candal A
(2014)
Stellar occultation by (119951) 2002 KX 14 on April 26, 2012
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Antoniadis J
(2013)
A massive pulsar in a compact relativistic binary.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Bastian N
(2013)
Early disc accretion as the origin of abundance anomalies in globular clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bell C
(2012)
Pre-main-sequence isochrones - I. The Pleiades benchmark The Pleiades benchmark
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bell C
(2013)
Pre-main-sequence isochrones - II. Revising star and planet formation time-scales
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bento J
(2014)
Optical transmission photometry of the highly inflated exoplanet WASP-17b?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bessiere P
(2014)
Clear evidence for the early triggering of a luminous quasar-like active galactic nuclei in a major, gas-rich merger
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bessiere P
(2012)
The importance of galaxy interactions in triggering type II quasar activity Triggering type II quasars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| Description | Key findings include the following: - First clear demonstration that molecules can be accelerated in fast shocks driven be relativistic jets in AGN. - Discovery that the cool ISM masses of the host galaxies of radio-loud AGN are relatively low, suggesting that the AGN are triggered in modest, rather than major mergers. - Ultracam observations of a pulsar orbiting a white dwarf leading to stringent tests of General Relativity. - Development of the ULTRASPEC instrument on the Thai National Telescope. - First accurate census of massive stars and their feedback effect in the key 30 Doradus star forming region - Substantially improved determination of the spatial distribution of Wolf Rayet stars in the Milky Way |
| Exploitation Route | It is hoped that the results will be useful in outreach activities that inspire students in schools to become involved in science as a career, and also encourage an interest in science in older generations. |
| Sectors | Education |
| Description | The research results obtained over the period of the grant have informed an number of outreach/publish understanding events: - several talks to schools and amateur societies; - large-scale outreach events such as the "Sounds of the Cosmos" and "Back to the Future" events in Sheffield and elsewhere. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |