Astrophysics Research at Liverpool John Moores University
Lead Research Organisation:
Liverpool John Moores University
Department Name: Astrophysics Research Institute
Abstract
We propose to continue our wide-ranging programme of research tackling cutting-edge astrophysical problems. We address two main topics: Explosive Transients (Theme A) and: Galaxies and Active Galactic Nuclei (Theme B). These Themes cover several of the scientific priorities in STFC's strategic plan under their theme Universal Challenges. In Theme A we will study the physics of Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) - the most powerful explosions in the Universe - and use them as environmental probes. Combining cutting-edge theoretical predictions with novel observational experiments on the world's largest robotic telescopes, we will probe regions of extreme physics to determine the fundamental role of magnetic fields. We will use GRBs to probe the environment of massive stars locally and in the early Universe. We will search for the first electromagnetic counterparts to neutrino bursts predicted to be produced by GRBs, detection of which will revolutionise understanding of relativistic explosions. In a second part of Theme A we will investigate the fundamental properties of both Galactic and extragalactic Recurrent Novae, building on our considerable expertise in this area, focussing on the possibility that these objects are the progenitors of the important Type Ia Supernovae, which have become known as one of the primary probes of the scale and nature of the Universe. Theme B explores how the galaxies around us are formed, and how they then evolve over cosmic time. We will investigate what the properties are of the stellar populations which form in galaxies, when in the history of the galaxies the stars were formed, and how this depends upon the surroundings of the galaxies (e.g. whether they are in clusters or not, whether or not they contain the accreting Supermassive Black Holes which power Active Galactic Nuclei). We will use information from the most powerful ground based telescopes, and from optical, infrared and X-ray telescopes in space, combined with theoretical modeling, in an approach known as 'Galactic Archaeology' to uncover information on how the galaxies were assembled. All of our research uses the most advanced ground-based telescopes (such as our own Liverpool Telescope), satellites and data analysis techniques to carry out observations from gamma rays to radio wavelengths and ARI staff are lead many of the new generation surveys with these telescopes. The projects we propose in both themes are technically demanding and require computer software support to aid the delivery of the science. The structure and organisation of the ARI is designed to deliver internationally excellent research. The ARI is also a major international player in developing and exploiting outreach activities to engage the wider population in our science through the National Schools Observatory and the local astronomy visitor centre, Spaceport.
Publications
Loveday J
(2012)
Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): ugriz galaxy luminosity functions GAMA luminosity functions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lu X
(2017)
The Molecular Gas Environment in the 20 km s -1 Cloud in the Central Molecular Zone
in The Astrophysical Journal
Maciejewski W
(2013)
How to recover both velocity components in discs of barred galaxies with integral-field spectroscopy
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Maciejewski W
(2010)
ORBITAL SUPPORT OF FAST AND SLOW INNER BARS IN DOUBLE-BARRED GALAXIES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Mackay C
(2018)
GravityCam: Wide-field high-resolution high-cadence imaging surveys in the visible from the ground
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
Madrid J
(2010)
ULTRA-COMPACT DWARFS IN THE CORE OF THE COMA CLUSTER
in The Astrophysical Journal
MAGIC Collaboration MAGIC
(2018)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: S5 0716+714 multi-wavelength curves (MAGIC Collaboration+, 2018)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Maguire K
(2012)
Hubble Space Telescope studies of low-redshift Type Ia supernovae: evolution with redshift and ultraviolet spectral trends NUV observations of SNe Ia
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Marinova I
(2012)
THE HST /ACS COMA CLUSTER SURVEY. VIII. BARRED DISK GALAXIES IN THE CORE OF THE COMA CLUSTER
in The Astrophysical Journal
Martone R.
(2018)
GRB 180720B: LCO Haleakala possible bright optical candidate.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Martone R.
(2018)
GRB 180316A: LCO Cerro Tololo observations.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Martone R.
(2018)
GRB 181022A: LCO Sutherland observations.
in GRB Coordinates Network
Mauduit J
(2012)
The Spitzer Extragalactic Representative Volume Survey (SERVS): Survey Definition and Goals ( PASP, 124, 714, [2012] )
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Mauduit J
(2012)
The Spitzer Extragalactic Representative Volume Survey (SERVS): Survey De?nition and Goals*
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Maxwell M
(2012)
The helium abundance in the ejecta of U Scorpii The helium abundance in the ejecta of U Scorpi
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mayers Julian A.
(2018)
Correlations between X-ray properties and Black Hole Mass in AGN: towards a new method to estimate black hole mass from short exposure X-ray observations
in arXiv e-prints
McQuillin R
(2012)
Novae in the SuperWASP data base Novae in the SuperWASP data base
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
McWhirter P
(2018)
GRAPE: Genetic Routine for Astronomical Period Estimation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mehrtens N
(2012)
The XMM Cluster Survey: optical analysis methodology and the first data release The XMM Cluster Survey first data release
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mehrtens N.
(2018)
VizieR Online Data Catalog: BOSS galaxies in X-ray clusters (Mehrtens+, 2016)
in VizieR Online Data Catalog
Melandri A
(2012)
The optical SN 2012bz associated with the long GRB 120422A
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Melandri A
(2010)
GRB 090313 AND THE ORIGIN OF OPTICAL PEAKS IN GAMMA-RAY BURST LIGHT CURVES: IMPLICATIONS FOR LORENTZ FACTORS AND RADIO FLARES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Melandri A.
(2008)
THE EARLY-TIME OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF GAMMA-RAY BURST AFTERGLOWS
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Miyake N
(2012)
A POSSIBLE BINARY SYSTEM OF A STELLAR REMNANT IN THE HIGH-MAGNIFICATION GRAVITATIONAL MICROLENSING EVENT OGLE-2007-BLG-514
in The Astrophysical Journal
Description | Discoveries into the evolution of galaxies and stars, their origin and astrophysical processes. |
Exploitation Route | Continue to research into unsolved problems in astrophysics. |
Sectors | Education |
Description | Many outreach activities across all sectors, e.g. Schools, public, policy makers, flower shows |
First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
Description | NSO Presentation in House of Commons |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Description | Consolidated Renewal |
Amount | £1,200,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/R000484/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 03/2021 |
Description | EU Framework Programme |
Amount | £71,038 (GBP) |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 05/2012 |
End | 06/2015 |
Description | EU Framework Programme |
Amount | £29,175 (GBP) |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 05/2011 |
End | 06/2013 |
Description | STFC Large Awards |
Amount | £15,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2011 |
End | 06/2013 |
Description | STFC SiS Fellowships |
Amount | £74,252 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2011 |
End | 10/2013 |
Description | University Widening Access |
Amount | £1,283,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Liverpool John Moores University |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2011 |
End | 09/2017 |
Description | ARI Engagement |
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 ARI Outreach team delivers 50 events per year in addition to School based activities. These include, astronomy and science societies and associations, public open events, theatre, street theatre etc..art exhibitions, church societies, cubs, scouts, brownies etc.. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016 |
Description | Input to Parliamentary Inquiry |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Provision of evidence and acting as expert witness for House of Commons S&T Committee Inquiry into astronomy and particle physics. Recommendations in final report supporting the Liverpool Telescope and National Schools' Observatory. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | NSO-Garden Chelsea |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | In 2015 the NSO exhibited a garden called Dark Matter; at the Chelsea Flower Show winning a Gold medal and Best in Class" (Fresh Gardens). The aggregate audience was estimated at 211 million. The garden has an extensive legacy value at the STFC Daresbury Laboratory and is highlighted on the front cover of the 2015 STFC Impact Report. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.stfc.ac.uk/files/impact-report-2015/ |
Description | National Schools Observatory |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Enhanced interest and uptake of STEM subjects Each year the NSO delivers just over 40 different events or visits to or involving schools. This reaches a total of about 4,500 pupils per year in about 80 different schools. Increasing schools registration on NSO - more than 4000 currently |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | Pre-2006,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016 |
URL | http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk/ |
Description | National Schools' Observatory in Primary Schools |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 1000 Primary school teachers and their pupils engaged with astronomical research using the Liverpool Telescope and resources of the NSO website. Over all NSO activity (Primary, Secondary, FE) over the period: 30,000 observing requests were delivered and just under 3,000,000 educational webpages viewed. This is in addition to the engagement activity entered into eVal for the previous period. www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013 |
URL | http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk |
Description | Press coverage relating to the Liverpool Telescope |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Paper Presentation |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | 12+ significant stories covered by the media through press releases related to the Liverpool Telescope. This is in addition to the outputs reported for the previous period through eVal. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013 |
Description | School and Public Talks |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 50+ public talks and 200+ schools talks based around science from the Liverpool Telescope. This is in addition to data entered through eVal for the previous period. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013 |
URL | http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/outreach |
Description | TV and radio coverage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Contributions to TV and radio broadcasts featuring LIverpool Telescope science. Total 20+ in this reporting period. This is in addition to the outputs reported for the previous period through eVal. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013 |
URL | http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk |