PATT Support for Ground Based Astronomy at the University of Birmingham

Lead Research Organisation: University of Birmingham
Department Name: School of Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

This grant is to enable astronomers at the University of Birmingham to travel to a range of ground based telescopes around the world to do interesting science (which is described in detail in other grant proposals).

Publications

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Combes F (2012) A bright z = 5.2 lensed submillimeter galaxy in the field of Abell 773 HLSJ091828.6+514223 in Astronomy & Astrophysics

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Haines C (2015) LoCuSS: THE SLOW QUENCHING OF STAR FORMATION IN CLUSTER GALAXIES AND THE NEED FOR PRE-PROCESSING in The Astrophysical Journal

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Haines C (2012) LoCuSS: A DYNAMICAL ANALYSIS OF X-RAY ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI IN LOCAL CLUSTERS in The Astrophysical Journal

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Jaffé Y (2016) BUDHIES - III: the fate of H i and the quenching of galaxies in evolving environments in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Marrone D (2012) LoCuSS: THE SUNYAEV-ZEL'DOVICH EFFECT AND WEAK-LENSING MASS SCALING RELATION in The Astrophysical Journal

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Mulroy S (2017) Galaxy cluster luminosities and colours, and their dependence on cluster mass and merger state in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Okabe N (2016) LoCuSS: weak-lensing mass calibration of galaxy clusters in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Rhodes J (2017) Scientific Synergy between LSST and Euclid in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series

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Xu L (2015) THE RELATION BETWEEN LUMINOUS AGNs AND STAR FORMATION IN THEIR HOST GALAXIES in The Astrophysical Journal

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Ziparo F (2016) LoCuSS: exploring the selection of faint blue background galaxies for cluster weak-lensing in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

 
Description The main advance in our knowledge from the research funded by this grant relates to the methods needed to measure the mass of galaxy clusters accurately. Galaxy clusters are the most massive objects in the universe, and the number of them that we find is sensitive to the overall properties of the universe, including the dark energy that is driving the accelerating expansion of the universe. Looking to the 2020s, when UK astronomers will be using the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, we will need to understand how to measure galaxy cluster masses with an average error of 1%. The work funded by this grant took an important step towards that goal, by bringing the current error down to around 4%. Previously it has been at the 10% level and higher in some cases.
Exploitation Route Our results influence the field going forward through planning for scientific exploitation of data from the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope.
Sectors Other
 
Description Local Cluster Substructure Survey (LoCuSS) 
Organisation University of Victoria
Country Australia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution proposal writing, collaboration management and leadership, observing, data analysis, interpretation, paper writing and publication
Collaborator Contribution proposal writing, observing, data analysis, interpretation, paper writing and publication
Impact outputs: 23 papers, 1156 citations since 2008;
Start Year 2007
 
Description Astronomy in the City 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Public astronomy nights at the University of Birmingham, including talks about current hot topics in astronomy research, and the night sky next month, followed by visits to our Observatory and opportunities to observe the night sky, and hands on exhibits in case of bad weather.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014,2015,2016,2017,2018
URL http://www.sr.bham.ac.uk/observatory/astronomyinthecity.php