Open University Rolling Grant 2009 - 2014
Lead Research Organisation:
The Open University
Department Name: Physical Sciences
Abstract
The OU Astronomy Group seeks continuation of its Rolling Grant to support a program of observational, theoretical, laboratory and space based astronomical research and instrumentation development. Theme 1 Star formation: This theme aims to understand star formation of our Galaxy and the local universe, focussing on near and far infrared studies. We will pursue four interlinked projects working within our access to the Guaranteed Time data from the AKARI space infrared telescope, the LOFAR radio telescope, and ESO facilities. The projects lie at the heart of star formation astrophysics, building on past work on molecular cloud structure, far-IR astronomy and triggered and high mass star formation. Project 1.1 ASTRO-F Galactic Plane Survey Project 1.2 Massive star and starburst cluster formation Project 1.3 HERSCHEL Survey exploitation Project 1.4 LOFAR Galactic Plane Survey Theme 2 Planetary Astrophysics: This area includes observational searches for Exoplanets; exoplanet characterisation with HST and Spitzer, modelling Exoplanet atmospheres; the interior structure of Exoplanets; and the dynamics and migration physics involved in various planetary architectures; and models and exploitation of data from solar system terrestrial planetary atmospheres. Project 2.1 Exoplanet Dynamics Project 2.2 Exoplanet Structure and Evolution Project 2.3 Solar System terrestrial planetary atmospheres Theme 3 Extragalactic Infrared astronomy & Cosmology: This is an integrated research programme to trace the cosmic evolution of star-forming galaxies using major international far-infrared and submm-wave legacy surveys / key projects. Project 3.1 SCUBA-2 and AKARI Legacy Surveys Project 3.2 The HERSCHEL ATLAS Key Project Project 3.3 The Cosmic Near-Infrared Background Theme 4 Extreme Environment astrophysics: This program explores the interrelation between galactic environment and relativistic object content in nearby galaxies, to provide insights into high-mass star formation, relativistic object formation and high-energy phenomena that cannot be gained from observations in our own Galaxy alone; to study the counterparts of high-energy sources we identify in our X-ray surveys of nearby galaxies; and conduct numerical simulations to model the nature of the accretion flows and the nature of their X-ray populations Project 4.1 Relativistic accretors in nearby galaxies Project 4.2 Characterising compact accreting systems Project 4.3 Magnetic Cataclysmic Variable Populations Theme 5 Laboratory Astrochemistry; Exploring Chemical Complexity: The research is targeted at simulating chemical and physical processes within star and planet formation regions and planetary atmospheres and surfaces; The research programme is focused on two projects (i) exploring the nature of chemical complexity in the ISM and (ii) identification of biomarkers that will be used to exploit extant data, and lead to the identification of robust biogenic biomarker signals in Exoplanet atmospheres and surfaces. Project 5.1 The Chemistry of Star and Planet Formation. Project 5.2 Identifying biosignatures for Exoplanetary studies; Theme 6 Astronomical Instrumentation Development for Space Missions: This proposal aims to promote radiation damage studies for future space missions which are within the STFC programme. The activity includes: a) Laboratory study of radiation damage and other environmental factors affecting scientific instrumentation on space missions, b) To provide low-level support to our collaboration with China on their first national X-ray astronomy mission, HXMT, c) To provide support at the early stage of future project studies, for both space and ground based instrumentation Project 6.1 Laboratory Studies of Radiation Damage (1 PDRA) Project 6.2 Radiation Damage support for the HXMT project
Publications
Zavagno A
(2010)
Star formation triggered by the Galactic H II region RCW 120 First results from the Herschel Space Observatory
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Ysard N
(2013)
Variation in dust properties in a dense filament of the Taurus molecular complex (L1506)
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Yamamura I
(2009)
The First release of the AKARI-FIS Bright Source Catalogue
Wraight K
(2012)
Bright low mass eclipsing binary candidates observed by STEREO STEREO low-mass EB candidates
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wraight K
(2012)
A photometric study of chemically peculiar stars with the STEREO satellites - I. Magnetic chemically peculiar stars? STEREO photometry of magnetic CP stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wraight K
(2012)
STEREO observations of long period variables STEREO observations of LPVs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wilson C
(2012)
The JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey - VIII. CO data and the LCO(3-2)-LFIR correlation in the SINGS sample
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wilson C
(2010)
The JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey - IV. Velocity dispersions in the molecular interstellar medium in spiral galaxies The JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey - IV
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wilson C
(2009)
THE JAMES CLERK MAXWELL TELESCOPE NEARBY GALAXIES LEGACY SURVEY. I. STAR-FORMING MOLECULAR GAS IN VIRGO CLUSTER SPIRAL GALAXIES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Wijesinghe D
(2011)
GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies UV spectral slope and obscuration
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wiegert J
(2014)
How dusty is a Centauri? Excess or non-excess over the infrared photospheres of main-sequence stars
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
White G
(2012)
A deep ATCA 20 cm radio survey of the AKARI Deep Field South near the South Ecliptic Pole A deep ATCA 20 cm radio survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
White G
(2010)
Herschel -SPIRE spectroscopy of the DR21 molecular cloud core
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
White G
(2010)
A deep survey of the AKARI north ecliptic pole field I. WSRT 20 cm radio survey description, observations and data reduction
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
White G
(2012)
CONFERENCE SUMMARY: THE LEGACY OF AKARI: A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE DUSTY UNIVERSE
in Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
White G
(2012)
THE FILAMENTARY WEB OF STAR FORMATION
in Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
Warren B
(2010)
THE JAMES CLERK MAXWELL TELESCOPE NEARBY GALAXIES LEGACY SURVEY. II. WARM MOLECULAR GAS AND STAR FORMATION IN THREE FIELD SPIRAL GALAXIES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Ward-Thompson D
(2010)
A Herschel study of the properties of starless cores in the Polaris Flare dark cloud region using PACS and SPIRE
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Vasavada A
(2012)
Assessment of Environments for Mars Science Laboratory Entry, Descent, and Surface Operations
in Space Science Reviews
Van Weeren R
(2012)
First LOFAR observations at very low frequencies of cluster-scale non-thermal emission: the case of Abell 2256
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Van Kampen E
(2012)
Herschel -ATLAS/GAMA: spatial clustering of low-redshift submm galaxies Herschel -ATLAS/GAMA clustering at low z
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Valtchanov I
(2011)
Physical conditions of the interstellar medium of high-redshift, strongly lensed submillimetre galaxies from the Herschel-ATLAS? ISM of H-ATLAS submm galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tremblin P
(2013)
Pillars and globules at the edges of H ii regions Confronting Herschel observations and numerical simulations?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Tinetti G
(2011)
The science of EChO
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Tinetti G
(2012)
EChO Exoplanet characterisation observatory
in Experimental Astronomy
Thompson M
(2010)
A search for debris disks in the Herschel -ATLAS
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Thomas N
(2010)
SuperWASP observations of long timescale photometric variations in cataclysmic variables
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Thi W
(2010)
Herschel -PACS observation of the 10 Myr old T Tauri disk TW Hya Constraining the disk gas mass
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Thi W
(2013)
Gas lines from the 5-Myr old optically thin disk around HD 141569A Herschel observations and modeling??????
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Thi W
(2011)
Detection of CH + emission from the disc around HD 100546
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Takagi T
(2011)
The AKARI NEP-Deep survey: a mid-infrared source catalogue
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Takagi T
(2010)
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) luminous galaxies at z ~ 1
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Sánchez-Gallego J
(2011)
The JCMT Nearby Galaxies Legacy Survey VI. The distribution of gas and star formation in M 81
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Suutarinen A
(2013)
Determination of the far-infrared dust opacity in a prestellar core
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Stroud V
(2010)
The eclipsing, double-lined, Of supergiant binary Cygnus OB2-B17
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Street R
(2010)
WASP-24 b: A NEW TRANSITING CLOSE-IN HOT JUPITER ORBITING A LATE F-STAR
in The Astrophysical Journal
Stiele H
(2011)
The deep XMM-Newton Survey of M 31
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Spiga A
(2010)
Structure and dynamics of the convective boundary layer on Mars as inferred from large-eddy simulations and remote-sensing measurements
in Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society
Spiga A
(2010)
Correction to: 'Structure and dynamics of the convective boundary layer on Mars as inferred from large-eddy simulations and remote-sensing measurements'
in Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society
Spiga
(2010)
Martian mesoscale and microscale wind variability of relevance for dust lifting
in The Mars Journal
Smoker J
(2011)
Early-type stars observed in the ESO UVES Paranal Observatory Project - III. Sub-parsec and au-scale structure in the interstellar medium? Sub-parsec and au-scale structure in the ISM
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Smalley B
(2011)
SuperWASP observations of pulsating Am stars
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Skillen I
(2009)
The 0.5 M J transiting exoplanet WASP-13b
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Simpson E
(2011)
WASP-37b: A 1.8 M J EXOPLANET TRANSITING A METAL-POOR STAR
in The Astronomical Journal
Simpson E
(2011)
INDEPENDENT DISCOVERY OF THE TRANSITING EXOPLANET HAT-P-14b
in The Astronomical Journal
Sicilia-Aguilar A
(2013)
Protostars, multiplicity, and disk evolution in the Corona Australis region: a Herschel Gould Belt Study
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Shaw Greening L
(2009)
An X-ray spectral survey of the disc of M 31 with XMM-Newton
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Serjeant S
(2012)
A multi-wavelength view of galaxy evolution with AKARI
Description | This supported a varied programme of astronomical research at the Open University. Outputs have been published in peer-reviewed, and unrefereed papers and catalogues. |
Exploitation Route | These results were rolled into the next Consolidated Grant that was awarded. |
Sectors | Education |
Description | As a basis for a number of Television News interviews on different astronomical subjects As part of Open University Teaching material |
First Year Of Impact | 2009 |
Sector | Education |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | Edinburgh |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Department | Theoretical Particle Physics (PPT) Research Group |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Contribution of expertise; also some travel funds for visits of the collaborator to Durham and Glasgow. |
Collaborator Contribution | A member of Edinburgh University joined an existing project looking at properties of soft gluons in multiparton scattering. This has led to new developments, aided by the combination of complementary expertise. Edinburgh have also contributed with some financial assistance (e.g. accommodation for visits). |
Impact | So far there have been two published research papers (see publications). |
Start Year | 2010 |