Survey Cosmology and Astrophysics
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Portsmouth
Department Name: Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation
Abstract
This rolling grant is to support cosmologists and astrophysicists at the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (ICG) at the University of Portsmouth. The ICG was formed in 2002 through a strategic investment from the university, and now hosts up to 50 researchers making it one of the largest extragalactic groups in the UK. Cosmology and astrophysics are experiencing a golden age of discovery driven by new advances in technology and theory. However, we still face two fundamental challenges before a more complete model of the Universe can be achieved: i) What are the properties of the 'dark matter' and 'dark energy' that make up 96% of the Universe, and ii) how do galaxies - the 'building blocks' of the Universe - form and evolve? This grant will address both these fundamental problems through the use of new, massive surveys of the sky. For example, we will use a new 520-megapixel camera on the Blanco 4-meter telescope in Chile to digitally image the southern sky. This survey - known as the Dark Energy Survey (DES) - will detect 300 million galaxies thus allowing us to measure the clustering of galaxies to high precision and detect the weak gravitational lensing of distant galaxies due to the foreground dark matter. DES will also discover thousands of distant supernovae (exploding stars) which will determine the expansion of the Universe over 70% of its lifetime. We are the only UK astronomy group involved in the new Sloan Digital Sky Survey III (SDSS-III) Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) which will measure the redshift (and thus distance) to over 1.5 million galaxies over half the age of the Universe. BOSS started in 2009 and we will use these data to study the evolution of massive galaxies, especially when compared to the latest theoretical models of galaxies produced exclusively at the ICG, understand the effect of host galaxies on supernova explosions and determine the geometry of the Universe to high precision using the Baryon Acoustic Oscillations. In addition to new optical surveys, we plan to harness the power of the next generation of radio telescopes that are just being built. The first of these is LOFAR, which has base stations spread across Europe forming an effective radio telescope over 600 kilometres in size. We will use LOFAR, in conjunction with new data from the SDSS, to study the effects of supermassive black holes on the evolution of elliptical galaxies. The energetic outflows from these black holes has been proposed as a way of slowing down the growth of such galaxies, making them 'red and dead' today. Also, the LOFAR data can be used to understand dark energy through the 'Integrated Sachs-Wolfe' effect, which is particularly sensitive to the rate of growth of structures in the Universe and thus the strength of gravity on cosmological scales. Therefore, LOFAR will be a powerful tool for testing Einstein's Theory of General Relativity which is fundamental to cosmology. Taken together, we expect to measure the density of dark energy over 70% the age of the Universe. This will tell us if it is just a constant, as first proposed by Einstein, or something more exotic like Quintessence, 'phantom energy' or extra dimensions! This data will also shed light on the properties of dark matter, which we can 'see' via gravity but does not shine like normal matter. We will also obtain a fuller understanding of the characteristics of massive galaxies throughout cosmic time. This will tell us whether the cold dark matter theory provides an adequate description of the formation and evolution of galaxies. In addition to research, the ICG staff are committed to public outreach and have been engaged in a number of visible activities in the media and local community. For example, our staff have visited many local schools to discuss their careers, their research (e.g. Galaxy Zoo), and express the fun of doing research.
Publications
Scolnic D
(2020)
Supernova Siblings: Assessing the Consistency of Properties of Type Ia Supernovae that Share the Same Parent Galaxies
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Seo H
(2012)
ACOUSTIC SCALE FROM THE ANGULAR POWER SPECTRA OF SDSS-III DR8 PHOTOMETRIC LUMINOUS GALAXIES
in The Astrophysical Journal
Shapiro C
(2012)
The complementarity of redshift-space distortions and the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect: a 3D spherical analysis Complementarity of ISW and RSD
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Shipp N
(2018)
Stellar Streams Discovered in the Dark Energy Survey
in The Astrophysical Journal
Simmons B
(2012)
Galaxy Zoo: Bulgeless Galaxies With Growing Black Holes
Simmons B
(2014)
Galaxy Zoo: CANDELS Barred Disks and Bar Fractions
Simmons B
(2013)
Galaxy Zoo: bulgeless galaxies with growing black holes
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Simmons B
(2014)
Galaxy Zoo: CANDELS barred discs and bar fractions?
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Simon P
(2012)
Spatial matter density mapping of the STAGES Abell A901/2 supercluster field with 3D lensing 3D analysis of HST/STAGES
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Skibba R
(2012)
Galaxy Zoo: the environmental dependence of bars and bulges in disc galaxies Environmental dependence of bars and bulges
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Smethurst R
(2018)
SDSS-IV MaNGA: the different quenching histories of fast and slow rotators
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Smith D.
(2020)
Experimental tests of sub-surface reflectors as an explanation for the ANITA anomalous events
in arXiv e-prints
Smith M
(2018)
Studying the Ultraviolet Spectrum of the First Spectroscopically Confirmed Supernova at Redshift Two
in The Astrophysical Journal
Smith M
(2020)
First Cosmology Results using Supernovae Ia from the Dark Energy Survey: Survey Overview, Performance, and Supernova Spectroscopy
in The Astronomical Journal
Smith M
(2020)
First cosmology results using type Ia supernovae from the Dark Energy Survey: the effect of host galaxy properties on supernova luminosity
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Song Y
(2011)
Complementarity of weak lensing and peculiar velocity measurements in testing general relativity
in Physical Review D
Stephenson LJ
(2020)
High-Rate, High-Fidelity Entanglement of Qubits Across an Elementary Quantum Network.
in Physical review letters
Sánchez A
(2012)
The clustering of galaxies in the SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey: cosmological implications of the large-scale two-point correlation function Cosmological implications of the BOSS CMASS ?( s )
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tamosiunas Andrius
(2020)
Investigating Cosmological GAN Emulators Using Latent Space Interpolation
in arXiv e-prints
Taylor E
(2011)
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): stellar mass estimates GAMA: stellar mass estimates
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Thomas D
(2013)
Stellar velocity dispersions and emission line properties of SDSS-III/BOSS galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Thomas D
(2011)
Chemical abundance ratios of galactic globular clusters from modelling integrated light spectroscopy Chemical element ratios of globular clusters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Thomas D
(2011)
Flux-calibrated stellar population models of Lick absorption-line indices with variable element abundance ratios Stellar population models of Lick indices
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Thomas J
(2011)
Dynamical masses of early-type galaxies: a comparison to lensing results and implications for the stellar initial mass function and the distribution of dark matter Luminous and dark matter in early-type galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tojeiro R
(2012)
The clustering of galaxies in the SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey: measuring structure growth using passive galaxies RSD measurements with passive galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tojeiro R
(2011)
The stellar evolution of luminous red galaxies, and its dependence on colour, redshift, luminosity and modelling Modelling LRG evolution
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tojeiro R
(2011)
Disentangling star formation and merger growth in the evolution of luminous red galaxies The growth of luminous red galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tojeiro R
(2012)
The progenitors of present-day massive red galaxies up to z ˜ 0.7 - finding passive galaxies using SDSS-I/II and SDSS-III The progenitors of LRGs to z˜ 0.7
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tojeiro R
(2013)
The different star formation histories of blue and red spiral and elliptical galaxies
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tonini C
(2012)
THE EVOLUTION OF BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXIES IN A HIERARCHICAL UNIVERSE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Tonini C
(2011)
The hierarchical build-up of the Tully-Fisher relation The hierarchical build-up of the TF relation
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Troxel M
(2018)
Dark Energy Survey Year 1 results: Cosmological constraints from cosmic shear
in Physical Review D
Tucker Douglas
(2021)
SOAR/Goodman Spectroscopic Assessment of Candidate Counterparts of the LIGO--Virgo Event GW190814
in arXiv e-prints
Vergani D
(2018)
The VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey (VIPERS) AGN feedback in [NeV] emitters
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Vincenzi M.
(2020)
The Dark Energy Survey Supernova Program: Modelling selection efficiency and observed core collapse supernova contamination
in arXiv e-prints
Vincenzi M.
(2021)
The Dark Energy Survey Supernova Program: Cosmological biases from supernova photometric classification
in arXiv e-prints
Wethers C
(2018)
UV-luminous, star-forming hosts of z ~ 2 reddened quasars in the Dark Energy Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
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
Wiseman P
(2020)
Supernova host galaxies in the dark energy survey: I. Deep coadds, photometry, and stellar masses
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wong O
(2012)
Galaxy Zoo: building the low-mass end of the red sequence with local post-starburst galaxies? Building red sequence galaxies with PSGs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Zehavi I
(2011)
GALAXY CLUSTERING IN THE COMPLETED SDSS REDSHIFT SURVEY: THE DEPENDENCE ON COLOR AND LUMINOSITY
in The Astrophysical Journal
Zhao G
(2012)
Testing Einstein gravity with cosmic growth and expansion
in Physical Review D
Zhao GB
(2012)
Examining the evidence for dynamical dark energy.
in Physical review letters
Description | Research at the ICG has helped understand the formation and evolution of the universe. This information is important to advance our understand of fundamental physics as well as being of great interest and fascination by the general public. |
Exploitation Route | Research at ICG is published in peer-reviewed journals and have received significant citations over the last decade. Researchers at the ICG are some of the highest cited astrophysicists and cosmologists in the UK, showing their work is used and influential (mainly by other academics in our field of research) |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
URL | http://www.icg.port.ac.uk |
Description | Research at the ICG has helped understand the formation and evolution of the universe. This information is important to advance our understand of fundamental physics as well as being of great interest and fascination by the general public. Research on citizen science (GalaxyZoo) has been recently developed for use with commercial company |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Creative Economy,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic |
Description | Continuation of funding as new STFC consolidated grant "Cosmology and Astrophysics at Portsmouth" |
Amount | £1,378,546 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2013 |
End | 04/2015 |
Description | DES |
Organisation | Dark Energy Survey (DES) |
Country | Global |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Scientific leadership and guidance, preparation of scientific simulations and preparations, organisation of meetings and events |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to proprietary data and scientific collaboration |
Impact | Scientific publications (see publication list) |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | Euclid Consortium |
Organisation | UK Space Agency |
Department | Euclid Consortium |
Country | France |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Scientific and collaboration leadership. Help with design of weak lensing science requirements, scientific coordination of the mission and design of the Euclid deep field |
Collaborator Contribution | Involvement in the design and possible construction of the Euclid satellite mission which is one of three concepts being studied by ESA and the UK space agency. |
Impact | Involvement in many aspects of the Euclid design and management. Involvement in the drafting of the Euclid "Yellow Book". Some funding from the UK Space Agency. |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | LOFAR |
Organisation | LOFAR |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Scientific and technical assistance with the funding and installation of a LOFAR antenna array at Chilbolton. Scientific leadership in the use of LOFAR-UK and LOFAR in general |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to proprietary data and UK LOFAR array at Chilbolton. |
Impact | See publications |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | SDSS |
Organisation | Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-III) |
Department | Astrophysical Research Council |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have collaborated on research including catalogue preparation, database hosting, documentation and SDSS outreach & public understanding |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to unique proprietary data |
Impact | Many peer-reviewed academic publications (see list of publications) |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | BBC Stargazing Spinnaker Tower Event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Workshop Facilitator |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Information not available |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Cosmology Masterclass |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Since 2012 the Cosmology Masterclass has engaged and inspired over 200 A level students with research at the ICG. The Cosmology Masterclass began as a collaboration with The Portsmouth Grammar School in 2010 and is now held annually on campus, with several additional 'mini-Masterclasses' each year at local colleges. - Feedback from the 2013 event was some of the best the University has received for an A level event. - Over the years 13 students have subsequently joined ICG for summer placements of which four cite their experiences at ICG as helping them to decide to pursue STEM subjects at university. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2012,2013,2014 |
Description | Scienza Arte Ambiente |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 1 h of questions after the talk that we had to stop for logistic reasons (the pupils would have continued! Information not available |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Talk "Mapping the Universe" - Percival inaugural |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Professor Percival's inaugural lecture, attended by VIPs, members of the ICG and the general public The Lecture was recorded. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | University of Portsmouth Year 12 Technology Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Information not available |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | UoP Year 12 Science Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Co-Is have contributed talks to the annual Faculty of Science conference for year 12 students, sparking questions following the talk. Unknown |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2014,2015 |
Description | Year 12 science conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Information not available |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |